The World Health Organization (WHO) has recently conducted a pandemic simulation involving a fictional virus named “mammothpox,” reportedly triggered by the excavation of a woolly mammoth. The exercise, detailed by The Telegraph, tested global readiness for the outbreak of a new and deadly virus potentially originating from thawing Arctic permafrost.
According to documents obtained by the British outlet, the scenario was part of Exercise Polaris, which involved over 15 countries earlier this month. The simulation aimed to prepare governments and health systems for a fast-spreading and lethal disease with similarities to smallpox and mpox.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who has repeatedly cautioned that another pandemic is inevitable, described such a scenario as an “epidemiological certainty,” warning that a global outbreak could occur “in 20 years or more, or it could happen tomorrow.”
The fictional virus, “mammothpox,” in the simulation was released following an Arctic excavation by a team of scientists and documentary filmmakers. Within weeks, the virus had reportedly overwhelmed intensive care units around the world and placed severe strain on public health systems.
Although the exercise concluded with the successful containment of the virus, WHO officials stressed that a real-world outbreak would be significantly harder to control.
The briefing documents cited by The Telegraph emphasize the growing threat of ancient viruses preserved in frozen environments. As permafrost continues to thaw due to climate change, pathogens that have remained dormant for thousands of years may emerge—posing risks to populations with no prior immunity.
The report also highlighted concerns over unregulated excavation activity in Arctic regions. Scientists and ivory hunters, often lacking proper biosecurity measures, have been unearthing ancient remains, including those of woolly mammoths.
In 2023, French scientist Jean-Michel Claverie revived a 48,500-year-old virus from Siberian permafrost. Dubbed a “zombie virus,” it sparked debate about the risks of reanimating ancient microorganisms, especially in the face of rising global temperatures and expanding Arctic exploration.
