Genetic analysis from a team at the University of Ottawa in Canada suggests climate change could lead viral spillover the Arctic. “This twofold effect of climate change, both increasing spillover risk and leading to a northward shift in species ranges could have dramatic effect in the High Arctic,” says the paper published Wednesday in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences journal. The results suggested the risk of viral spillover was greater in larger waterways which have more glacier meltwater. Viral spillover increases with runoff from glacier meltAs climate change is expected to accelerate glacier melt, the risk of virus spillover could also be increased, the research suggests. Write to Eilís Quinn at eilis.quinn(at)cbc.caRelated stories from around the North:Canada: Climate change could fuel increase in mosquito-borne viruses in Canada’s Northwest Territories, say officials, CBC News

Source: CBC News October 24, 2022 19:42 UTC