Scientists in Siberia have revived viruses from the Siberian permafrost. One of the 13 viruses revived, called pandoravirus yedoma found frozen under a lake is more than 48,500 years old. According to scientists, these viruses are not a scare to humans since they affect only amoeba microbes. However, keeping in mind the scare of climate change and the rapidly worsening case of global warming, these viruses might release into the air and affect other species, thus, affecting us all.
Things to keep in mind
We indeed live in what Ulrich Beck called the “risk societies”, where capitalism is accompanied by the emergence of various health hazards, an inevitable feature of industrialisation. Covid-19 is perhaps the biggest example to explain this phenomenon. Scientists believe that such pandemics will become much more common in the future as the melting permafrost releases long-dormant viruses.
Therefore, it can be said that these “zombie viruses” might pose some sort of a threat to humans by being an infectious “health danger”. The worst part is that we live in times of accelerating global warming, hence, the risk of discovering more such viruses due to the thawing of ice caps sounds like a bad omen. Along with the zombie virus, scientists have also discovered Siberian wolf intestine and mammoth wool beneath.
Although scientists said that their work posed a negligible threat to people, they also wrote that the results could, “be extrapolated to many other DNA viruses capable of infecting humans or animals”. On the possibility of the release of pathogens due to the melting of permafrost, Professor Birgitta Evengard from the Department of Clinical Microbiology, Umea University, Sweden said, “ There’s Pandora's box- they have the potential to be human pathogens”.
Permafrost, also known as permanently frozen soil, can mostly be found in Alaska, Canada and Siberia, covering about a quarter of the Northern Hemisphere, but areas are thawing as the climate warms up. Many other research groups are looking at pathogens and other bacteria being released as a result. Conclusively, it is too early to correctly enumerate the threats that these viruses pose to mankind, they are still being studied, and not a lot can be said. A virus can only be as lethal as the amount of study that has been done on it, the lesser that we know about it, the more significant the chances of loss of human lives.
What can you do?
Unprecedented times call for individuals to maintain a healthy and well-balanced diet that meets the needs of their body to create ample antibodies. This helps the body recognise and fight foreign bacteria from entering the system, acting like a personal shield. Consuming foods rich in Beta carotene, Ascorbic acid and other essential vitamins are suggested. For example mushrooms, tomatoes, bell peppers, and other greens like broccoli, and spinach are all good options that help the body build resilience to infections.
People who smoke regularly are at special risk, smoking hampers our immunity system to a great extent, and it compromises the equilibrium of the body. This increases the risk of several immune and autoimmune disorders - a condition in which the body’s immune system attacks the body’s healthy cells and tissues. It is also essential to maintain hygiene, wash hands at regular intervals as well as maintain a clean environment indoors.
With the recent scare of Covid-19, the biggest learning was perhaps to be up to date with your vaccinations. Be aware of all the recommended vaccines. Vaccines help prep or prime the immune system to fight infections before they enter the body.
End Note
Being aware citizens and catching up on the latest developments about health scares worldwide is a good habit to cultivate to stay one step ahead. Always following the guidelines laid down by the WHO as regards the spread of various diseases and viruses is advised. Together, we can survive pandemics as was seen in the case of Covid - 19, however, negligence on the part of even a handful of people can threaten the lives of those around them.
Written By: Vishakha Baisoya
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