Introduction
The Arctic is warming faster than any other region on Earth, with the rate of warming being two to three times greater than the global average (AMAP, 2024). Warming is shifting habitats northward, disrupting wildlife and altering ecosystem dynamics. Rapid warming is dramatically transforming the Arctic environment, from vanishing sea ice to thawing permafrost to more extreme weather (Pecl et al., 2017). As the Arctic warms, permafrost (permanently frozen ground) is thawing, releasing greenhouse gases like methane and carbon dioxide, which further amplify warming. An unexplored vulnerability for the Arctic region now and in the immediate future is the rapid thawing of permafrost due to climate change, with concomitant emerging risks to human and animal health (Hedlund et al., 2014). Permafrost contains a vast microbial diversity, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi that have been frozen for millenia. As permafrost thaws, these microbes can become active again, potentially causing new or re-emerging infectious diseases in humans and animals (Caruso & Rizzo, 2025, Findlay, 2025). The risk is particularly high for zoonotic diseases, as thawing permafrost alters the habitats and migration patterns of wildlife that can serve as disease reservoirs (Parkinson & Evengård, 2009).
Recognizing permafrost thaw as one of the greatest vulnerabilities in the Arctic is crucial for mobilizing the resources and partnerships needed to address this urgent challenge (Ramage et al., 2021). By working across disciplines and knowledge systems, and by centering the voices of Arctic communities, more effective strategies should be developed for monitoring, mitigating, and adapting to the far-reaching impacts of permafrost thaw in the rapidly changing North.
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