Recently, scientists discovered a frozen virus that is 48,500 years old. The Zombie virus, as it is known, is thought to be the oldest virus ever discovered. The virus was discovered in the Arctic permafrost, where it had been preserved for thousands of years. This virus's discovery has raised many questions about the origins of viruses and their ability to infect humans.

The Zombie virus belongs to the Orthomyxoviridae family of viruses, which also includes influenza viruses. The virus is thought to have infected a population of lemmings that lived in the Arctic region at the time. The virus is thought to have spread between lemmings via respiratory droplets, similar to how influenza is spread in humans today.

This virus's discovery has significant implications for our understanding of how viruses evolve and adapt to new hosts. Scientists believe the Zombie virus evolved to infect lemmings and other small mammals, but it is unknown whether the virus can now infect humans. The virus is not currently known to be capable of infecting humans, but the possibility cannot be discounted.

Another significant aspect of this discovery is that it has highlighted the possibility of viruses surviving in permafrost for thousands of years. The Arctic permafrost has long been thought to be a potential repository for ancient viruses, and this discovery confirms this. Scientists believe that permafrost has the ability to preserve viruses for long periods of time, and that there may be many more ancient viruses waiting to be discovered in the Arctic.

The discovery of the Zombie virus has also raised concerns about the release of ancient viruses as permafrost melts. Climate change is causing Arctic permafrost to melt at an unprecedented rate, and scientists are concerned that as the permafrost melts, ancient viruses will be released into the environment. This could result in the emergence of new viruses or the re-emergence of viruses not seen in thousands of years.

Finally, the discovery of the Zombie virus has given scientists valuable insights into the origins of viruses and how they evolve. The virus infected lemmings and other small mammals in the Arctic region 48,500 years ago and has been preserved in permafrost. Concerns have also been raised about the possibility of ancient viruses being released as permafrost melts, posing a threat to human health. More research is needed to fully comprehend the implications of this discovery and how it may affect human health in the future.