Understanding and Responding to Global Health Security Risks from Microbial Threats in the Arctic

Abstract:

A rapidly warming climate is leading to widespread thawing of permafrost and ice across Arctic and sub-Arctic regions. Among the many concerns this raises are growing questions about bacteria and viruses that could possibly emerge from these thawing environments, raising infectious microbial risks for animal and human populations. Some studies have shown that bacteria and viruses frozen in the environment can potentially remain viable for thousands and even millions of years, and this raises questions about whether permafrost may harbor microbes that are human pathogens. Given the very limited studies to date, it is difficult to characterize the magnitude and nature of these potential risks, yet understanding and preparing for “low-probability, high-consequence” events is one of the hallmarks of a robust public health protection strategy. In November 2019, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine in collaboration with the InterAcademy Partnership and the European Academies Science Advisory Committee held a workshop to bring together international researchers and public health officials from several different disciplines to explore what is known, and what critical knowledge gaps remain, regarding existing and possible future risks of harmful infectious agents emerging from thawing permafrost and ice in the Arctic region. This presentation will highlight key research materials presented at the workshop as well as summaries of participant discussions.