Will climate change mean the return of smallpox and other viruses? The contagious disease of viral origin, which in 30% of cases is fatal, was officially declared by the WHO as eradicated in 1980. The last known case of smallpox in the world was diagnosed in 1977 in Somalia. Now, however, with the melting of the ice, some experts are sounding the alarm about the possible defrosting of infected bodies buried in Siberia.
Don't store avocado like this: it's dangerous
Will climate change mean the return of smallpox and other viruses? The contagious disease of viral origin, which in 30% of cases is fatal, was officially declared by the WHO as eradicated in 1980. The last known case of smallpox in the world was diagnosed in 1977 in Somalia. Now, however, with the melting of the ice, some experts are launching thealarm about the possible defrosting of infected bodies buried in Siberia.
If this occurs, it could potentially initiate a cycle of infection as soon as someone comes into contact with the infected remains. In an apocalyptic scenario, from the frozen bodies of smallpox victims in Siberia, threatened with thawing due to climate change, the virus could return to the environment and create a global pandemic.
In fact, this eventuality has been talked about for over a decade, as shown in the 2002 article by Richard Stone, published in Science , which tells the story of a group of Russian experts who in July 1991, in the village of Pokhodsk, above the Arctic Circle, would have come into contact with numerous 19th century smallpox victims mummified in permafrost. The narrated scene is so captivating that we will avoid reporting it.
It is, however, just a week ago the news of the discovery of a new one giant virus, the Pithovirus sibericum, which has survived for more than 30 thousand years frozen in the frozen ground. According to French and Russian researchers from Jean-Michel Claverie's team at the National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), it may not be an isolated case. The study is published on Pnas.
The further and progressive melting of the Arctic ice packs could really do to thaw viruses that are potentially dangerous to humans or animals, such as smallpox? Should we take into account imminent infections? For now it is just a doubt. Just as it is also for the link between climate change and the spread of malaria and parasites.
Roberta Ragni
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