Smallpox is believed to have been eradicated from the human population in 1979. But some experts think that melting ice in Siberia caused by rising temperatures and climate change might uncover the remains of people who died from the horrific virus, which causes people who are infected to break out in pustules, and is extremely contagious.

Smallpox is believed to have been eradicated from the human population in 1979.

But some experts think that melting ice in Siberia caused by rising temperatures and climate change might uncover the remains of people who died from the horrific virus, which causes people who are infected to break out in pustules, and is extremely contagious.

If smallpox is reintroduced into the human population it could have devastating effects, because modern people don’t have a natural immunity to the virus.

One report published in 2002 includes the description of an area in Siberia where a child’s body that appeared to show signs of smallpox was found in the thawing mud.

The BBC reported that “scientists have attempted to excavate corpses in frozen graves in Alaska and Siberia that contain the remains of smallpox victims, however none of the bodies contained viable viruses.”

Another expert, Michael Lane who worked at the Center for Disease Control on smallpox eradication for over a decade says that there is no real threat of smallpox making a resurgence because of infected bodies that are thawed out by climate change.