Just for Fun: Surviving a viral-induced zombie apocalypse – Part 2

Cara N. Wilder, Ph.D.

Below is the second entry of the journal we found in an old decrepit lab that was used during the “zombie” outbreak of 2035. Though the journal is decades old, we managed to preserve the entries so that they can be shared with the world.

(Note: this is a fictional story that is meant for fun, it is not a real story, there is no zombie apocalypse)

Photo Provider: CDC

November, 2035

For days we worked silently in the BSL3 zone, carefully handling the virus in Class III biosafety cabinets, working to isolate the contagion and discover its secrets. Over time, we found that the virus was similar to Rabies virus genotype 1, commonly found in carnivores and human rabies cases. Using ATCC^® VR-138™ and ATCC^® VR-137™ rabies strains as references, we found that the viral contagion had a single-stranded, negative-sense RNA genome, a bullet-like morphology, and affected the limbic and peripheral nervous systems similar to our standards. However, upon sequencing analysis, we found that though the virus was genotypically similar to rabies, there several mutational changes in the genomic material. After further examination, we discovered that these mutations resulted in more localized infections of amygdala, resulting in extreme agitation; the hippocampus, resulting is the loss of human memories; and the orbitofrontal cortex, resulting in the loss of cognitive decision making. These mutations also appeared to contribute to the lack of hydrophobia or paralysis commonly seen in rabies victims, thus allowing for the infected subjects to survive for longer time periods.

Using this data, we managed to develop a vaccine generated from the inactivated virus, which was confirmed to offer protection against the contagion. Since then, we’ve been working towards the production and distribution of the vaccine to reach people throughout the world. So far, we’ve managed to keep parts of Europe and Australia free from infection. I can only hope that one day we will be able to develop an antiviral therapy to save those that remain infected.

But until then, I can only leave this one piece advice; get vaccinated, and never stop running!