Speculation about a possibility of a new pandemic due to the release of viruses in the permafrost zone in Siberia are unfounded, and the probability of a new global virus is much higher to arise from viruses that circulate among animals, TASS quoted an Epidemiology institute representative as saying.
The Guardian cited a study by European scientists who reported that large-scale mining operations in the permafrost zone in Siberia will lead to the release of a huge number of pathogenic microorganisms.
"Permafrost exists not only in Russia, [but also] for example, in Denmark on the island of Greenland, or in the United States on the Alaska peninsula, but these scientists are talking about Siberia and its development projects. From a political point of view, there is currently a contest for the Arctic shelf and the Northern Sea Route. Therefore, as part of this struggle, they [Western nations] come up with all sorts of stories in order to take control of something and limit someone. I see this as just an attempt to influence the internal affairs of our country," said Vladimir Dedkov, Deputy Director for Scientific Work of the St. Petersburg Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology.
According to him, humanity might as well encounter unknown viruses or microbes by cutting down forests in Amazon regions never explored before, and in all other places where no human has set foot.
Dedkov also noted that distant ancestors of humans, most likely, have already encountered viruses that may be present in the permafrost and have undergone a natural selection to survive these viruses. "Therefore, our immune system is very likely ready for this," he said.
"Rospotrebnadzor, for its part, is also working on biosafety issues in the Arctic zone. We are constantly monitoring the conditions there. There is no real threat to the Russian population, all this is under control and is being monitored," Dedkov assured.
Alex Shishlo for Rough&Polished
