Zombies could take over within just 60 daysPosted on Tuesday, 1 November, 2016
Could you survive a zombie virus outbreak ? Image Credit: CC BY 2.0 Hypnotica Studios Infinite
A new computer model has calculated how long it would take for a real-life zombie virus to spread.
Developed by Argonne National Laboratory just in time for the Halloween season, the model is based on the same type of simulation used to calculate the spread of diseases such as Ebola.
By centering their zombie model in the city of Chicago, the researchers were able to determine that a real-life virus could completely take over within as little as 60 days after the initial infection.
The model indicates that within this time frame two million Chicago residents would have been turned in to 'walkers' while a further half a million would have ended up dead.
The findings echo the plot of popular TV series 'The Walking Dead' in which a zombie virus succeeds in wiping out most of the human race in less than two months.
According to the researchers, the computer model also makes it possible to see how the implementation of different strategies by local authorities could influence the outcome.
Teaching citizens how to kill zombies and setting up an improved communication system seemed to offer the best chance of keeping the maximum number of people alive following the outbreak.
