Zombie infection causes tension in student relationship

The zombie plague has proven difficult for some student relationships.

A zombie attack on Tuesday proved problematic for freshman couple Hannah Masko and McKay Mondfrans. 

While walking around campus, Masko and Mondfrans were ambushed by a horde of zombies. Although Masko was able to escape unharmed, Mondfrans was infected during the struggle.

“They initially came after me, but I was out of ammunition,” Masko said. “McKay jumped in front of me and got infected instead. It was supposed to be me.”

According to Masko, Mondfrans began transforming into a zombie right after being bitten.

“I could smell his flesh start to rot almost immediately,” Masko said. “It was really hard to see my boyfriend turn into something almost unrecognizable.”

“There was a lot going through my mind at the time,” Mondfrans said. “I was just hoping that she would somehow still want to be with me.”

After the attack, Masko avoided Mondfrans as much as possible.

“Of course I care for McKay, but once he turned into a zombie, all I could do was avoid him,” Masko said. “I didn’t want to turn into one either.”

Although Masko tried to avoid contamination, she was infected in the Stan Laub Indoor Training Center Wednesday night during a mission to secure a vaccine for the zombie virus.

“There was really no escaping it,” Masko said. “I was surrounded.”

According to Mondfrans, Masko’s infection has improved their relationship.

“Now that we are both zombies it’s great,” Mondfrans said. “We get to be together constantly without worrying about killing or eating each other.”

While Masko and Mondfrans are able to be together without harming each other, their relationship is much different than it was when they were human.

“Every time we hug, little chunks of flesh fall off,” Mondfrans said. “I know it shouldn’t bother me, but it feels really weird.”

“I’ll always be grateful to McKay for saving me, but now that we are both zombies, I’m not sure how we can really care for each other,” Masko said.

According to Masko and Mondfrans, being zombies has put a strain on their relationship, but neither is willing to give up on it.

“If we can just push through until we get the vaccination, I know that we will come out of this stronger than before,” Mondfrans said.

UnDeadline reporters Sarah Winder, Mandi West, Lindsey Snyder, Taylor Condie and Ron Matheson contributed to this report.

Zombies roaming college campus will soon be sedated and treated for parasite.

Scientists believe they might have found a cure to the zombie epidemic.

The cause of Utah State University’s zombie outbreak, which began Tuesday, has been determined. A parasite which inhabits the brains of humans was found in several different individuals serving as hosts.

This parasite, which is the first of its kind and is not yet named, mutated from the 2012 form which infected students on Utah State’s campus for more than four days.

Those who have not been touched by zombies are safe as long as they avoid direct contact. Zombies can be easily identified by their orange headbands and rotting flesh. 

“This parasite effectively enters the bloodstream and it can completely alter the brain synapse and the neurotransmitters,” said Sofia Origanti, a molecular biologist instrumental in determining the cause. “It has found a way to somehow get inside your brain.”

After effectively quarantining Cache Valley on Tuesday evening, scientists were able to tranquilize four zombies by shooting darts which cut off the brain from the circulatory system. This induced coma allowed blood samples to be obtained and organs examined. 

The zombies remained tranquilized through the night for testing. During that time The results showed that these individuals previously thought to be undead are still living.

"You can't just walk around from point A to point B," said Edwin Antony, a biochemist who assisted in the examination of sample corpses. "You need some sort of energy to keep the body going."

The examinations showed that organs are not directly affected by the parasite but by hormones which come from the infected brain. Organs are not harmed, due to the parasitic nature of requiring a healthy host.

Antony said that there is hope that the infected can be treated and return to normalcy.

"Because they can be cured we have to make sure that we sedate them, quarantine them and then slowly work on rehabilitation," Antony said. "But we can kill the parasite. Parasites work differently than humans so you can definitely develop drugs for it really quickly."

Vaccines will be available upon request at the Registrar’s Office on the third floor of the Taggart Student Center starting Friday morning. Two different treatment procedures for the infected are still in development.

UnDeadline reporters Scott Hall, Caroline Peterson, Itzel Leon, Kris Hyde, Madison Maners, Stacey Worster contributed to this report