'Ancient Virus' Discovered in Tibetan Permafrost Melted by Global Warming

[Image source=Asia Economy DB]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] In Tibet, China, a joint research team from the United States and China has reportedly discovered an ancient virus that formed 15,000 years ago and had been dormant in perennial snow. There are concerns that as global warming causes glaciers and perennial snow in polar regions and high-altitude areas to melt, ancient viruses trapped within them will be released more frequently in the future.

According to foreign media including the U.S. science outlet Live Science, on the 22nd (local time), a joint U.S.-China research team discovered an unknown ancient virus in glacier samples collected from the Tibetan Plateau. The virus is estimated to have formed about 15,000 years ago and is believed to have been trapped in perennial snow during the Ice Age. Viruses can remain in a dormant state within glaciers for up to 100,000 years and become active again by entering a host's body when temperatures warm.

The research team found genetic information of 33 viruses in the ice, of which 28 were reported to be previously undiscovered viruses. With global warming causing more glacier ice to melt, there is a risk that viruses could be released into the environment or spread to other regions via hosts. In fact, recent global warming has led to massive melting of glaciers in polar and high mountain areas, increasing cases of ancient viruses reactivating.

In 2016, anthrax spread in the Yamal region of northern Siberia, Russia, resulting in the death of a 12-year-old child, infection of 72 nomads, and the death of about 200 reindeer. The discovery of anthrax in Russia was the first in 75 years since 1941, and initially, Russian authorities investigated the incident as a possible terrorist act or deliberate experiment by an enemy nation.

However, investigations revealed that the cause of the anthrax outbreak was global warming. That summer, the Yamal region experienced an abnormal heatwave with temperatures rising to 35 degrees Celsius, causing massive glacier melting. This thaw exposed ancient anthrax bacteria hidden in animal carcasses buried in permafrost and perennial snow, allowing the bacteria to enter hosts and become active.