Zombie Infection?

I think we all know what zombies arethe walking dead, always hungry, existing only to devour the living or transform us into beings like themselves. Little to no intelligence (usually), and usually they move about as quickly as they think. Easy to avoid, but impossible to escape. Yes, this is what a zombie is to most people. But could such a creature really exist? Well... no, some of the typical zombie traits are not possible. The primary one is being dead, discarding magic or divine intervention. However, many of the other traits are very plausible. Almost every symptom of zombification is present in various infections. So, the question is what traits do our zombies have or not have? I'm glad you asked, my dear friends. Let's begin our journey through both science and fantasy as we learn the truth about the undead. When the Dead Walk The world is now filled with the undead. You woke up one morning, and boom, you're in a George Romero flick. Alright, get the shotgun and we're on a roll! Chop em' dice em' smash em'. No zombie is going to be eating your brain! Now hold on just a second there, Rambo. Before you shred these things to pieces, lets take a look at exactly what we're dealing with. To begin with, let's look at the classic symptoms of, well... being a zombie: Flesh Eating: Zombies desperately want to eat you, that's something that almost every zombie movie makes obvious. If you have a pulse, you're on the menu. Walking Dead: A zombie is a dead, rotting meat machine. You can't reason with it, you can't bargain, you can't intimidate it. Invulnerability: The body is completely dead, and killing it again is almost impossible. The only thing that will put them down is to put out the lights. That is to say, destroy the central control system of the zombie. Without a brain, a zombie cannot function. Therefore, chop off the head or put a bullet through it's skull. Decomposing: Zombies, being dead, are subject to decomposition. Eventually they will probably not be a threat, but until then their stench and appearance are among the most potent weapons in a zombie's arsenal. Lumbering Walk: Zombies don't walk particularly well. Pain Insensitivity: A zombie can't feel pain. A broken leg? Just keep limping along. Burning 'alive'? Keep coming anyway. Missing limb? Well, you get the idea.

Unfortunately, some of these traits are simply impossible. The question is, which ones? Well, let's start off by looking at symptom one, flesh eating. In all my searches, I can't think of any disease that can cause a human being to want to devour other human beings. Next up, being dead. Sorry, that one's not going to happen. A dead person is dead. Invulnerability? Another bummer. Decomposing, on the other hand, is surprisingly realistic. The condition is called necrosis, and it is fairly common. The lumbering walk is equally plausible, probably as a result of cerebral dysfunction. Finally, pain insensitivity is possible, but not particularly likely. So, what does that leave? Well, most of the symptoms actually do exist in modified forms. So, let's go over the symptoms again, and explain the closest real world equivalents. Flesh Eating: Few conditions result in cannibalism, but there are a some that could result in unbridled hunger. The first that comes to mind is KlverBucy syndrome, a condition that generally is caused by sever damage to both temporal lobes of the brain. The most common

cause of this condition in humans is the herpes simplex virus, but it is still uncommon, even when the disease does cause encephalitis. The second is a condition known as hyperthyroidism, when the thyroid gland goes crazy, sending a victim's metabolism through the roof. And hunger is one of the symptoms. However, the truth is that it's more likely that a zombie is simply hyper aggressive, leading to attacks on people and biting as a side effect. Being Dead: This is the second defining trait of zombies. And, in spite of what I said earlier, there is a condition similar to being a walking corpse. Necrosis, which I also mentioned earlier, is what happens when pieces of your body die while the rest of you is alive. While the most important parts of the body do continue to function, parts of the body really are dead. If a zombie is suffering from sever necrosis, then it really is a member of the walking dead. Invulnerability: There is nothing like the durability of the zombies in the movies anywhere in real life. The closest you could realistically come would be rapid blood clotting to prevent one of the undead from ever bleeding out. Decomposing: The result of above mentioned necrosis is that the dead body parts begin to decay while still on the body, and can spread to cover an entire human being. Lumbering Walk: Probably just a result of being extremely sick. Pain Insensitivity: This is a possible effect as nerve endings become necrotic, although constant agony is also possible.

Unfortunately for us evil genius types, no known infection can cause all of these symptoms at the same time. On top of that, there's a good chance that the infection would quickly incapacitate it's victims. And honestly, a crazy person lying in bed and slowly rotting alive isn't very intimidating. So, let's talk about infectious agents that might be capable of creating this semi-functional autonomous stupor. Why the Dead Walk So, I've explained many of the symptoms that zombies might have, but the question is, what kind of pathogen could cause the zombie condition? The condition obviously effects numerous systems, rather than just one or two the way a typical disease does. It needs to be able to compromise the brain, while also making the skin rot. And, at the same time, the disease needs to be able to delay killing the victims as long as possible. And it also needs to be easily transmissible from host to host. This is a very tall order for any infectious agent, and you may be thinking that our best bet is a virus. After all, viruses are some of the most versatile and diverse of all pathogens. They're highly contagious, they produce numerous varieties of symptoms. They can even rewrite a victim's DNA to some degree, such as the human T-cell leukemia virus, which causes a mutation leading to cancer. So, could a virus turn humans into the rotting monstrosities we see in the movies? Well, theoretically a virus like this could exist, but it is highly unlikely for a couple reasons. But the first and foremost is this: a virus that could do that much damage would almost certainly end up destroying its host within a week or two. Simply put, viruses only know how to cause damage. They don't have the power to do much more than destroy cells. A few can insert DNA into a host cell, but this alien DNA will almost never do anything good. The most likely result is actually cancer. So, if you're a zombie fan at least, your next thought might be 'Prion.' For those of you who don't know, prions are mysterious infectious agents that target brain tissue. The leading theory is that they are actually naturally occurring proteins that have been warped into an unusual shape. These proteins are able to cause other proteins to warp by coming into contact with them. More importantly, prion infections affect brain tissue, leading to various types of transmissible spongiform encephalopathy. There are a lot of differences between these infections, but all of them cause severe brain damage and eventually lead to death. The two most famous examples of human disease are Kuru

and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, but there are many others as well. Symptoms include ataxia (loss of balance), progressing dementia, personality changes, and speech impairment. Sound familiar? Well, while an epidemic of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease would certainly resemble a zombie apocalypse to some degree, there are some problems with prions as the causative agent for a zombie war. The biggest problem is that, while all these symptoms do sound very zombie-like, the rate at which they progress isn't quite right. That is to say, the brain will typically degenerate at the same rate in all areas. No one expects zombies to have any intelligence to speak of, right? But we do want them to be able to walk and eat. Well, a typical CJD victim will lose balance just as quickly as they will lose intelligence. By the time that the victims have the typical zombie mindset, they won't be able to walk at all, let alone attack those around them. Alright then, what does that leave? Well, this may sound strange, but... I'd probably go with microscopic parasites, which I shall refer to as Z1 from this point forward. You see, unlike viruses or even prions, bacteria or multicellular parasites can be, and often are, extremely complex, affecting numerous systems in various ways. In fact, one parasite, African trypanosomiasis, already does approximate many of the symptoms seen in zombies, such as poor balance, mental decline, and bouts of lethargy and mania. But, like many other 'zombie' plagues, this particular disease does kill its hosts relatively quickly. So, it looks like we're still going to have to customize a parasite. Let's begin by looking at the symptoms we want one more time. So, zombies are actually alive, that's pretty obvious. The symptoms that are probably most important to create a true zombie are delirium with violent outbursts, necrosis, and simply staying alive long enough to spread the infection. How can one parasite do this? Well, let's start with the part that all other zombie diseases fail at: keeping the victim alive. So, how does it work? First and foremost, the infection must not be able to damage vital organs significantly. The parasite stays alive by feeding off the victim's food, much the way any other tissue in the body does, through the bloodstream. But now let me explain the symptoms. The most noticeable of these is necrosis. We want these creatures to look like corpses, but at the same time necrosis shouldn't leave the victim completely bedridden. So, to start, the disease won't immediately begin to eat the person's body. Instead, Z1 will only begin eating the human skin when it is exposed to air. When this happens, usually due to parasites being released in sweat, the parasites will quickly begin to burrow back into the body, where they are protected from the elements and have a constant source of food. To prevent the victim bleeding out, the parasites must produce a substance that works almost like a natural glue, closing opened blood vessels. This will keep a zombie from bleeding out except from the most dire of injuries (which would probably kill them anyway), but it also starts up the process of decay. This natural glue might actually be mildly toxic, or even corrosive. Over time, this begins to damage the zombies' bodies significantly, producing the decayed appearance so often associated with them. So, that's why the victims look like walking corpses, but don't die as quickly as normal necrosis patients. So, here's the next problem: why are the zombies so violent and insane? If the parasite its self infects the nervous system, it will most likely either turn the host's brain to mush in a matter of weeks, or be completely asymptomatic. What does that mean? Is our quest to infect the world with zombies finished? Actually, there is one way for the infection to cause neurological symptoms without actually infecting the brain. All the parasite has to do is synthesize a chemical or mixture of chemicals with properties resembling those of the drug Phencyclidine (PCP), an NMDA receptor antagonist which has been known to trigger violent behavior under some circumstances. While zombies would not be aggressive all the time, they would be delirious almost constantly and have bouts of maniac aggression. The parasite could not produce these chemicals all the time, though, otherwise it would probably kill the zombie. More likely, the parasites would build up the chemicals until they can't hold any more and release some into the surrounding tissue, essentially giving the zombies a PCP high every day, while

still allowing occasional bouts of lucidity and time for sleep. The conditions can and will result in massive brain damage over time, although victims will initially appear to be normal crackheads. Eventually, the combination of necrosis and near constant influence of drugs will result in a victim's death, but this is about as close as you can expect to get to a real zombie. Stages of Infection Alright, so now we know what causes people to become zombies. So, how closely do the symptoms presented by these zombies resemble the original set of symptoms? Flesh Eating: Zombies won't usually eat people, but maniac aggression is a very likely effect of the hallucinogen that Z1 produces, although no zombie is likely to be violent all the time. Cannibalism is possible, but unlikely. Drug psychosis is unpredictable, so behavior could range from violent attacks on everything that moves to huddling in a corner whimpering. Being Dead: No, zombies are not dead, but the entire outer layer of the body is likely to be necrotic. Invulnerability: Actually, the same agent that causes necrosis in the zombie body also prevents bleeding out, making zombies much harder to take down than normal humans. The drug-addled brain makes them even more dangerous. Decomposing: This is the one symptom that is absolutely played straight. Lumbering Walk: The zombies will probably move at different speeds, depending on both the level of necrosis and levels of drugs in their bodies at any given time. Their abilities will range between barely able to walk and near super-human running speeds. Pain Insensitivity: This is one of the main effects of PCP. Zombies are unlikely to feel any pain while they are in their attack mode, although the massive damage due to necrosis will probably be enough to reduce them to moaning heaps of misery in their more lucid moments.

Before we go on, let's examine at the effects of PCP, which will closely mirror the effects of the Z1. Low doses of PCP generally result in numbness of the extremities, causing ataxia as zombies often have. Slurred speech is also common, giving more of a zombie-like appearance, and also bloodshot eyes. Psychological symptoms are even more striking, including massive changes in body image, paranoia, hallucinations, and often homicidal or suicidal urges. To make mattes worse, PCP addicts have been known to display feats of incredible strength, such as breaking steel handcuffs. So, we've got the zombie mindset pretty well covered, but let's consider how the disease probably effects the body. The parasite its self would most likely be spread via sexual intercourse, through water, or by bite of an infected human or possibly animal. Most likely the parasite would reproduce in the victim's body slowly, possibly taking months to reach a level high enough to actually start causing symptoms. However, even a single parasite might be enough to start the cycle, allowing victims to transmit Z1 before they start showing symptoms. Once symptoms appear, they would probably proceed as follows: 1. Mental instability, such as mood swings and irritability. The cause is tiny amounts of psychoactive drugs being produced by Z1. Necrosis around the bite or entry site of the disease may also be noticed during this stage. 2. Increased mental instability, as the result of increased levels of psychoactive chemicals in the brain. Victims appear drunken, and the smell and appearance of decaying flesh may become extremely noticeable. 3. Zombie-like necrosis becomes extremely apparent. Speech may be totally compromised by this

stage, but it's likely that zombies may make attempts at communication. 4. Full-fledged zombie. By this point speech should be almost impossible due to a combination of brain damage from the drug and severe necrosis of the lips and mouth. Zombies are in a constant state of delirium, and may turn violent at any time. And thus, we have determined exactly how a zombie looks and acts, and why it looks and acts that way. But that begs the question, how do you become a zombie, and how do we respond to an epidemic? Transmission and Epidemiology If you get bitten, you turn into a zombie, right? Just avoid the teeth and you're good to go. Right, right? Well... no. While it's true that a zombie bite would be the most potent method of transmitting the disease, it isn't by any means the only one. Actually, any bodily fluid transfer could potentially result in infection. Zombie sweat in an open wound would likely result in infection, as would sexual relations with one of the zombies or someone who does not yet show symptoms. But there are two more methods of infection that are even more dangerous. The first is insect transmission. An insect such as a mosquito or a fly could easily pick up Z1 from a zombie during a feeding. Most likely the insects are immune to the effects of the disease, but they can spread it any time they feed on another person. Not every infected insect would pass on the disease with every bite, but it would produce outbreaks similar to a West Nile virus outbreak. Thus, the greatest threat will always be during the Summer, and particularly in wet climates where misquotes breed. That brings us to our second mode of transmission, water. This parasite likely could live in stagnant water for a short time, although running water would probably be too rough for the parasites. If someone were to infect a large city's water supply with the parasite, the results could be disastrous as everyone who drank the water could be infected. This would allow the zombies to get a massive foothold instead of the traditional model of a lone zombie kick-starting the end of the world as we know it. Now that leaves the question of how destructive this disease would be. Could a disease like this actually bring about the apocalypse? Personally, I think it could. Look at any story of an encounter between the police and a crack head. Notice how difficult restraint and incarceration is. Now, just imagine if the condition was permanent, and transmissible. Our social order probably wouldn't be completely eradicated, but the damages would be unimaginable. And yes, you would likely have to fight to survive, which brings us to.... Fighting Back How do we defeat these monstrosities? If something like this ever happens, what will you do? The best answer is to avoid the undead like the plague, which is exactly what they are. Never engage in close quarter combat unless you absolutely have to, and disinfect yourself thoroughly after any such confrontation. If it is necessary to destroy a zombie or multiple zombies, always attempt to use a ranged weapon. To quote the movies: aim for the head. While destroying the heart, lungs, or other vital organs would kill a zombie, there's no guaranteed kill shot in the torso. The only way to immediately put one of them down is by severely damaging the central nervous system. Avoid going outside, if that is possible, and avoid traveling at night even more so. Never travel on foot. Some zombies may be slow and clumsy, but others could easily run you down and tear you apart in time for tea. While it should never be your first option, carry a melee weapon on your person at all times, and armor of some kind is recommended. If someone close to you becomes infected, the best option is probably to sever the limb well

above the bite, or euthanasia if the bite is on the neck, head, or torso. Only attempt to preserve a living zombie if you have a completely secure area in which to keep the individual, as the likelihood is that he/she would shred any restraints. Finally, always remember that you aren't dealing with immortal foes. Zombies will die off eventually. The best option is always to try to wait them out, rather than attempt confrontation. While a zombie outbreak of this nature would be devastating, I believe humanity could pull through. The infected might have numbers and animal brutality on their side, but they lack one of the most fundamental aspects of humanity: a mind. Humanity has suffered numerous plagues and catastrophes before, and the zombie plague is one more thing to overcome. We might suffer millions, even billions of casualties, but if we keep our heads, we can pull through anything. End.