The biggest risk with any novel viruses and other strains found in permafrost melt, is that they may have the capability to spread rapidly, initiating future pandemics in populations which do not have natural immunity. Modern vaccines could offer some protection against such novel viruses but these need to be studied as and when the virus infects people. This means that scientists have to stay ahead of the curve if suitable vaccines and technologies are to be developed to ensure sufficient vaccine supply.
As climate change alters the dynamics in the community structure of microorganisms, there is a need for us to accommodate these changes in our own community structures; hence the urgent requirement to adapt and evolve in response to our own changing circumstances. Climate change policies which consider microorganisms and the role they play in carbon reduction, land use, reducing environmental degradation and lowering our exposure to infectious disease, are key to our survival.