Can ancient germs from dug-up Egyptian mummies trigger a plague or pandemic today?

When we think of ancient Egypt, our minds often drift to grand pyramids, enigmatic hieroglyphs, and the timeless allure of mummies. Yet, beneath those linen wrappings lies a historical truth: ancient Egyptians were plagued by a host of infectious diseases. From smallpox and tuberculosis to leprosy, these maladies left their mark on the living and, quite literally, the dead. But in a world where the mere whisper of a pandemic sends shivers down spines, could these ancient germs still pose a threat today?

Take Ramesses V, the fourth pharaoh of Egypt's 20th dynasty, whose mummified body bears the telltale scars of smallpox. This virus, now officially eradicated, once wreaked havoc on human populations. The question arises: Could newly unearthed mummies — yes, mummies are still being discovered — unleash ancient plagues upon the modern world?

According to Piers Mitchell, director of the University of Cambridge's Ancient Parasites Laboratory, the answer is a resounding no. "Most species of parasites are dead within a year or two without a living host to latch onto," Mitchell explains. "If you wait more than 10 years, everything is dead."
For pathogens like the smallpox virus, which requires a living host to reproduce, survival over millennia is virtually impossible. The National Library of Medicine’s National Center for Biotechnology Information notes that poxviruses can only thrive within the cells of a living organism. Similarly, the bacteria responsible for tuberculosis and leprosy need living hosts to persist.

Despite the dramatic depictions in horror movies, where curses and ancient diseases are unleashed with a puff of dust, the reality is far more mundane. DNA degradation over time ensures that any ancient pathogens are rendered inert.

"With analysis, you can find that all the bits of DNA of these parasites are rather short. Instead of being nice, long, healthy DNA chains, they are only about 50 to 100 base pairs,” Mitchell elaborates. “There's no way for anything to be viable once the DNA has fallen apart — nothing is waking up."

Even intestinal worms, which are hardier than most parasites, stand little chance of survival over thousands of years. "Those can be a lot tougher and can last a number of months, or sometimes a few years, but none of them are going to last thousands of years," says Mitchell. "The vast majority of parasites die when the host dies because they have no way of surviving."
Moreover, modern researchers are well-equipped to handle ancient remains. The protective gear they wear, including masks and gloves, not only safeguards the mummies from contamination but also shields the researchers from any potential pathogens. This dual-layer protection ensures that even on the off chance some ancient germ defies the odds, it poses no threat to human health.

So, while the idea of mummies unleashing plagues might make for thrilling fiction, science tells a different story. The ancient Egyptians, with their myriad diseases, have left us many mysteries to unravel, but a modern-day plague isn't one of them. Rest easy knowing that the germs of yesteryear are as entombed as the pharaohs themselves.