Fatimah

Introduction

For centuries, scientists and environmental activists have warned us about the threats of climate change, citing increasing temperatures, droughts, wildfires, and of course, melting ice caps. Now, as a result of the rising temperatures and global warming, a new wake-up call has emerged: the potential outbreak of pathogenic viruses akin to Covid-19. 

Within these ice caps, organisms, bacteria, and viruses have been preserved and dormant since the last ice age, around 12,000 years ago. Scientists have dubbed the melting permafrost as the “Pandora’s Box” because its melting could possibly awaken and release a plethora of deadly diseases. And one certain strain of virus recently discovered in Siberia’s permafrost has garnered the attention of the media: The Zombie Virus.