Zombies,
the flesh eating, brain hungry monsters
that ravenously attack the world until everyone is infected.
Could such a frightening science fiction disaster actually happen?
As far fetched as it seems, according to what
we know from Lore and Canon, zombieism would work
the same way as infectious diseases like SARs, Ebola and the flu.
Once a person gets infected, they pass it from person
to person via close contact.
As with any newly emerging pathogen, the search for a cure
would be complicated, since its origins would likely be a mystery.
Scientists believe the risk of such a devastating scenario is growing larger.
People are building homes in new areas, living and working near
unknown insects and animals which can carry new unknown diseases,
increasing the chances of a deadly outbreak that could
possibly spread around the world.
Such a
disease wouldn't adhere to borders or politics.
It would require international coordination and decisive action.
All countries are legally bound to survey and monitor for disease
within their borders.
But many poorer countries simply don't have the infrastructure.
And depending on where a zombie case was identified,
the reaction could be very slow, allowing
ample time for the disease to spread.
A country might even attempt to hide the existence of an outbreak for political
or diplomatic reasons, perhaps to avoid disruptions in trade and travel
and try to contain it quietly, but with insufficient attention
to the issue, and with something as infectious as zombieism,
a spread might be inevitable and precious time for preparation.
While the outbreak was still nascent would be lost,
governments with plans for such an event
and first responders at the ready would fare best.
But without professionals treating and instructing people
how to interact with infected individuals or how to protect themselves,
the disease could spread fast amid an outbreak.
The W.H.O.
would deploy medical staff and attempt to coordinate response efforts.
But the W.H.O.
doesn't have the funding staff or resources to take the lead in halting
a pandemic.
Individual governments would have to mount their own initiatives.
Those countries would likely prioritize border
security in their plan, regardless of W.H.O.
recommendations or law, they might lock down their borders
and enforce travel bans to and from the center of the outbreak.
And they might quarantine or isolate
both actual and suspected zombies.
NGOs and aid groups would also spring into action raising funds
and sending medical staff to treat people with numerous actors on the ground.
It might be unclear who's in charge.
Meanwhile, scientists and researchers would try to develop a vaccine
or medication to halt the spread of zombies.
But this could take months while zombies continue to bite,
infect and spread.
Ultimately, researchers think that if a zombie plague
actually occurred, few would survive.
More people in richer countries might make it out alive,
but poorer countries would be decimated.
So what can be done now to protect the world from this zombie future
or from another disease that behaves like zombieism?
All countries need to develop the basic health
infrastructure to identify pandemics when they start.
More funding and improved international coordination are needed
for stronger investigations into how diseases spread.
With increased financial support for research.
Scientists can prepare vaccines
in advance for known diseases with potential to kill.
And when a disease strikes, they can create better
lab tests to detect who is infected and who is not.
Disparities in global health must also be addressed.
Poorer countries need stronger health systems and better preparation.
Richer countries like the U.S.
also have lots of room for improvement.
No city in the U.S.
currently has the capacity to treat more than a small number of patients
infected with dangerous emerging diseases.
An outbreak that infects just 50 people would likely overwhelm any American city.
We won't be able to stop every new disease,
but there are things the world can do to make sure it's far more resilient
and ready for the zombie apocalypse or any other pandemic like it.