Zombies
aren’t zombies.
That’s
the conclusion of biologists from Utah State University’s Institute for
Antiviral Research, who held a press conference Friday morning in the Sunburst
Lounge to announce the findings of research into the cause and treatment of the
current zombie epidemic.
"Zombies
are a tragedy of unsolved medical questions," said USU professor Sarah
Supp who has a PhD in biology. Her research reveals those infected are victims
of a new super virus that causes symptoms similar to rabies and mirrors zombie
characteristics.
“When
individuals come into contact with the zombie virus, their nervous system is
overridden and suppressed in a coma-like state,” Supp said. “Essentially they
become hollow shells controlled by the whims of the pathogen.”
In
order for a person to become infected, they must receive a massive dose of the
virus. The virus is spread through contact with the bodily fluids of those who
have already been infected.
“By
biting their victims, zombies introduce the pathogen directly into the blood
stream and bypass several parts of the human immune system,” Supp said. “Within
minutes, the pathogen spreads throughout the body and begins taking over.”
Dale
Barnard, a virologist from the IAR, said his research team has been working on
a retroviral vaccine that is currently being used for emergency treatment of
those infected by the zombie virus.
“After
we developed an animal model to test the retrovirus, we began administering it
to stunned zombies,” Barnard said. “It was a little slower than we expected
because this was a new viral agent, but all signs point to a recovery to normal
bodily and neural function.”
Once
the infected individuals have been treated, the retroviral vaccine will be
administered at the Student Health and Wellness Center and other local health
institutions.
UnDeadline reporters Erin Davies,
Jonathan Larson, Kellianne Smith and Natalie Thatcher contributed to this
report.
