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Discussion: How Long Will Zombies Last?
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Cypher9012 |
How Long Will Zombies Last?
Apr 2 2010, 3:43 PM EDT
Consider this: The Human Body is a complex machine. It requires a large number of things in order to keep it running and regardless of the type of zombie that appears come the Z-poc, they will have an expiration date on them. In popular media, such as; 28 Days Later, even those affected by the "Rage Virus" eventually succumbed to starvation, dehydration, exposure, etc, because of their neglect, hence a number of weeks or months after mass pandemic exposure and infection the carriers died out. And even "Traditional" zombies and "Viral"types from 'Infection = Death = Transformation' types have their expiration dates.(If the human body dies then certain processes begin to take place, regardless of whether the corpse is moving around or not. And Human Flesh or "Brains!" does not contain enough of the essential nutrientsneeded to survive, and how would a dead body digest food?) So regardless of the type, there IS an expiration date on the zaombies in a 'Zombie Apocalypse', whereby the situation reverts back to a normal disaster post-Z-day. So... How Long Would Zombies Last? How Many Will Die From Infection AND from Zombie-Related Deaths AND from Societal Collapse? What Will The World Be Like AFTER The 'Zombie Apocalypse'? Do you find this valuable?
Keyword tags:
Infection
Long-Term
Post-Apocalypse
Post-Z-Day
Survived
Type
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Jaggedrain |
1. RE: How Long Will Zombies Last?
Apr 2 2010, 4:03 PM EDT
It depends on what type of zombie you're talking about, really. If you're going with a Solanum-type zombie a la Max Brooks, you can have anything up to several years because according to the ZSW the bacteria and things that make dead bodies decay mostly won't go near anything infected with the virus.If you're going the No More Room in Hell route there's no telling, because that's a supernatural event and for all we know they could be walking around still fresh as a daisy ten thousand years from now. And so on, and so forth... The death count basically depends on the responses of various governments, speed in closing the borders, etc. If they're too slow and the military doesn't react quickly enough, you could be looking at about six billion dead or zombie'd. (If you don't believe me check the 'is there a doctor in the house' thread.) Depending on what type zombie you have you might end up with en entirely undead world Do you find this valuable? |
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Cypher9012 |
2. RE: How Long Will Zombies Last?
Apr 2 2010, 4:33 PM EDT
Read your thread and loved your ideas Jaggedrain. Really well thought out and some interesting views to think about, and it covers my questions regarding the "No More Room In Hell" scenario...and Max Brooks has essentially and extensively covered the Solanum type as you say. So let's go down the 'Science Route'.Using Popular Culture examples, let's say it's a Mutated Rabies Virus which causes people to become psychotic, aggressive, violent, etc...such as in the Left 4 Dead video games. Let's say that the incubation period is 24-72 hours of cold and flu-like symptoms before actual psycosis kicks in and then a rapid decline into "Out Of My Mind And Want To Tear Your Face Off" mode. (Think: '28 Days Later' type of infected, without the 'Instant Transformation' problems.) The three main questions again: How Long Would Zombies Last? How Many Will Die From Infection AND from Zombie-Related Deaths AND from Societal Collapse? What Will The World Be Like AFTER The 'Zombie Apocalypse'? Do you find this valuable? |
DevilNuts |
3. RE: How Long Will Zombies Last?
Apr 2 2010, 6:34 PM EDT
If they are running around like the ragers from 28L, I give them two days to a week. Dehydration will kill faster than infections or malnutrition, especially if they like to sprint for hours and not replenish. Dehydration would also affect the undead shamblers, although it would take a bit longer. Without fresh nutrients, water or oxygen, a body breaks down mighty quickly. It could be a few weeks or longer, but nowhere near the 2-5 years the ZSG claims. Do you find this valuable? |
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Cypher9012 |
4. RE: How Long Will Zombies Last?
Apr 2 2010, 7:11 PM EDT
| Post edited: Apr 2 2010, 7:12 PM EDT
Very good points Devilnuts and one of the points I really want to get across...that 'Actual Zombies' will not last long post-Z-day. In 28L one of the last scenes you see is an old man panting and dying on the side of the road up in Scotland somewhere, but how many people do you think will actually get infected globally? And after 28 days, how many uninfected people who have "Survived through the Zombie Apocalypse" will there be left toA.) Rebuild Society, or; B.) Form survival settlements in the 'New World' Do you find this valuable? |
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DevilNuts |
5. RE: How Long Will Zombies Last?
Apr 2 2010, 7:49 PM EDT
If the virus kills (or in this case, incapacitates) too quickly, like in 28L, it will not have enough time to spread throughout the world. I know people like to think that one airplane reaches every major population center in like five hours, but the world is a rather large place. Especially if you take into account the scene in 28WL where the dude busts into the warehouse and it just turns into a giant orgy of sh*t -- if that happened on an airplane, do ya really think they are going to reach the destination? Same goes with a boat, car, bus, you name it. Slower acting virii, like the romero one that takes a few days to kill stand a better chance of spreading to a wider area, but really weeks would be best (for the virus). Do you find this valuable? |
TheSecondShooter |
6. RE: How Long Will Zombies Last?
Apr 2 2010, 8:17 PM EDT
"If the virus kills (or in this case, incapacitates) too quickly, like in 28L, it will not have enough time to spread throughout the world. I know people like to think that one airplane reaches every major population center in like five hours, but the world is a rather large place.I agree the only way i see 28L type virus crossing an ocean would if the infected was in a cargo hold on a plain or a ship and was not discovered until they landed or made port. Do you find this valuable? |
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Cypher9012 |
7. RE: How Long Will Zombies Last?
Apr 3 2010, 1:18 AM EDT
Definately in agreement with DN on the 28L Viral Type. The film got one thing right in that the infection was contained within the British Mainland and never made it off-island as it were. And if a 28L virus did break out in the UK, anything leaving the UK (Plane/Boat etc...) would NEVER be allowed to dock or land anywhere.With a slower-acting virus, a 24-72 hour incubation period virus like Romero's, or like the Left 4 Dead Rabies strain which gives flu-like symptoms for a while before death/psycosis kicks in... Do you find this valuable? |
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TheSecondShooter |
8. RE: How Long Will Zombies Last?
Apr 3 2010, 6:26 PM EDT
what about carriers (infected people that never turn but can still spread infection) that could change everything. Ever heard of Typhoid Mary if not read this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Mallon 1 out of 1 found this valuable. Do you? |
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Cypher9012 |
9. RE: How Long Will Zombies Last?
Apr 3 2010, 8:52 PM EDT
I know of her, and know the part that carriers play. Now imagine your carrier is moving through government evacuation procedures with hundreds of people at a time from place to place, infecting a few people who turn, cause an evacuation of THAT centre, and then he/she does it again at the next RVE point?And another point on Carriers...Coldsores/Herpes that appear on the lips, some people can have the virus but never show the symptoms, while people they interact with can get the sores...I for one am of the carrier type, immune to the actual sore, but able to carry the virus...so if millions of people worldwide are carriers of that right now, there is actually a good chance of a carrier being found for a Z-Virus!!! Additionally: How do you know if that person you put in quarantine in your settlement is a carrier or not? They might not show any signs but you accept them as "Clean" and you're all dead! Do you find this valuable? |
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TheSecondShooter |
10. RE: How Long Will Zombies Last?
Apr 3 2010, 9:05 PM EDT
that's the worst part its not like you can send blood work out to the lab for testyou would have to find a simple way of telling, or you would have to quarantine newcomers together for long periods of time. Even then its a risk. Do you find this valuable? |
JPTank |
11. RE: How Long Will Zombies Last?
Apr 3 2010, 9:16 PM EDT
What if they do drink water and the food they eat (flesh) does nourish them?that may mean it depends on the severity of the zeds wounds. (simple bites puss and coagulate... the more severe, the quicker the expiration date. Do you find this valuable? |
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Cypher9012 |
12. RE: How Long Will Zombies Last?
Apr 3 2010, 10:32 PM EDT
JPTank...good point...what if the zombies (regardles of type) do gain nutrition from eating? What if the 'Rager' type from 28 Days Later do stop to eat and drink and act more like a pack of rabid baboons (quiet and pack-like except when they see an uninfected). Then the infection phase could last decades with humanity becoming two seperate factions...'Normals' and 'Ragers'
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TheSecondShooter |
13. RE: How Long Will Zombies Last?
Apr 3 2010, 10:43 PM EDT
| Post edited: Apr 3 2010, 10:44 PM EDT
even though you do not see it in the movies i find it hard to beleave that the zombies would not attack other infected the same as they attack uninfected. Rager's or rabies type zombies would be hostile to anything they came in contact with.
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JPTank |
14. RE: How Long Will Zombies Last?
Apr 3 2010, 10:52 PM EDT
"even though you do not see it in the movies i find it hard to beleave that the zombies would not attack other infected the same as they attack uninfected. Rager's or rabies type zombies would be hostile to anything they came in contact with."maybe they just know... kinda like a built in radar of sorts.. Do you find this valuable? |
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Cypher9012 |
15. RE: How Long Will Zombies Last?
Apr 3 2010, 11:16 PM EDT
"maybe they just know... kinda like a built in radar of sorts.."You mean the same way animals avoid infected animals, but some infected animal types group together and co-exist? Do you find this valuable? |
selfvengance |
16. RE: How Long Will Zombies Last?
Apr 17 2010, 7:13 PM EDT
There are certain parascites i believe that can manipulate an animals behavior or even change its outward apperance. when it does this it in effect creates a new species or sub-species that has its own group, and may victimize the original species in an effort to promote the spread of the parascite...damn these are nasty little bastards aren't they?
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PedroAsani |
17. RE: How Long Will Zombies Last?
Apr 17 2010, 7:31 PM EDT
"There are certain parascites i believe that can manipulate an animals behavior or even change its outward apperance. when it does this it in effect creates a new species or sub-species that has its own group, and may victimize the original species in an effort to promote the spread of the parascite...damn these are nasty little bastards aren't they?"Parasitic infection doesn't create a new species, or a new sub-species. At best, it creates a symbiotic relationship with the host. At worst, it is a detrimental pathogen. Do you find this valuable? |
StrykerPez |
18. RE: How Long Will Zombies Last?
Apr 17 2010, 7:34 PM EDT
Another thought.... as I said in my story "As The World Dies" what if a totalitarian government takes advantage of the situation (because with zombies around people would be more likely to accept oppressive government in exchange for protection) and actually infects criminals and homeless and the like to ensure a never-ending supply of infected?
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PedroAsani |
19. RE: How Long Will Zombies Last?
Apr 17 2010, 7:37 PM EDT
"Another thought.... as I said in my story "As The World Dies" what if a totalitarian government takes advantage of the situation (because with zombies around people would be more likely to accept oppressive government in exchange for protection) and actually infects criminals and homeless and the like to ensure a never-ending supply of infected?"Quite possible. Zombies as a weapon is a common thought, but zombies as a means of social control is credible also. Do you find this valuable? |
