Canadian Mathematicians model Zombie Outbreak

[Queasy]

Link - And this was with the slow moving zombies. If we get the fast moving zombies from Left 4 Dead, game over man. Game over!

Using models developed to calculate the effects of more plausible pandemics, the team from the University of Ottawa have discovered that unless man struck back quickly and aggressively then they would be doomed.

The scientific paper, which is published in a book ?Infectious Diseases Modelling Research Progress?, looks at an attack by the undead creatures, who infect the living with a bite.

In their study, titled When Zombies Attack!, the researchers picked ?classic? slow-moving zombies such as those in Dawn of the Dead as models and divided humanity into three: the living, zombies and the ?removed? ? zombies who had been killed by decapitation.

They concluded there was no point trying to cure those infected or live with them - the best thing was to destroy them as quickly as possible.

?A zombie outbreak is likely to lead to the collapse of civilisation, unless it is dealt with quickly,? they write in the book

?While aggressive quarantine may contain the epidemic, or a cure may lead to coexistence of humans and zombies, the most effective way to contain the rise of the undead is to hit hard and hit often.

?As seen in the movies, it is imperative that zombies are dealt with quickly, or else we are all in a great deal of trouble.?

Joe Imad, the study's co-author, said: ?If you look at it in a more realistic way, zombies are about the same as any other major infectious disease, they get out and we try to eliminate them.

?Modelling zombies would be the same as modelling swine flu, with some differences for sure, but it is much more interesting to read.?

 

[skace]

But if you do get overrun, head for the nearest mall.....

 

[Buttzilla]

that last quote is awesome. people will probably get hung up on emotional attachments, locking their zombified loved ones in basements, not fighting back because it's a family member that will lead to the eventual destruction of mankind.

 

[AntiFreze]

Originally posted by: skace
But if you do get overrun, head for the nearest mall.....

no, head away from civilization. less people = less zombies

 

[rivan]

Originally posted by: AntiFreze

Originally posted by: skace
But if you do get overrun, head for the nearest mall.....

no, head away from civilization. less people = less zombies

Exactly. Head for the nearest summer camp. Plenty of small cabins and creepy woods.

 

[stinger25]

Originally posted by: rivan

Originally posted by: AntiFreze

Originally posted by: skace
But if you do get overrun, head for the nearest mall.....

no, head away from civilization. less people = less zombies

Exactly. Head for the nearest summer camp. Plenty of small cabins and creepy woods.

my brother said if a zombie outbreak occured, that he'd basically look around the woods for a cabin. I told him he's a dummass...

 

[RyanPaulShaffer]

Originally posted by: rivan

Originally posted by: AntiFreze

Originally posted by: skace
But if you do get overrun, head for the nearest mall.....

no, head away from civilization. less people = less zombies

Exactly. Head for the nearest summer camp. Plenty of small cabins and creepy woods.

Or a creepy old mansion tucked away all nice and secluded in the mountains.

 

[l0cke]

In L4D some people where immune to the disease, but I don't know if these Canadians factored in immunity.

Special zombies might counter the immunity though.

 

[skace]

Originally posted by: AntiFreze
no, head away from civilization. less people = less zombies

Less zombies? What fun is that?

 

[Gigantopithecus]

The research paper is here if anyone is interested in looking at the models...

 

[TallBill]

I don't need a Canadian to tell me that.

 

[roguerower]

My friends and I came up with our zombie survival plan in case there was an outbreak.

1. Pawn shop and steal guns
2. Wal-mart for ammo to said guns
3. Kroger for food
4. Climb up on roof of dorm with all supplies and barricade windows
5. Commence firing and have fun.
6. Bullet to the brain when death is inevitable OR jump in car and rinse & repeat.

My personal weapons would be:
M-1 Garand (I own one)
12-Gauge
.45 M1911 or Glock .40

 

[isekii]

Originally posted by: roguerower
My friends and I came up with our zombie survival plan in case there was an outbreak.

1. Pawn shop and steal guns
2. Wal-mart for ammo to said guns
3. Kroger for food
4. Climb up on roof of dorm with all supplies and barricade windows
5. Commence firing and have fun.
6. Bullet to the brain when death is inevitable OR jump in car and rinse & repeat.

My personal weapons would be:
M-1 Garand (I own one)
12-Gauge
.45 M1911 or Glock .40

I'd just go sailing out to the ocean. Fish for my food.
Take massive amounts of vitamin C and water.

 

[FYIImaSpy]

I've read World War Z and Zombie Survival Guide. I'm ready.

 

[CPA]

I wonder how much the Canadian government, via university funding, paid to have these researchers "research" this?

 

[CPA]

Originally posted by: roguerower
My friends and I came up with our zombie survival plan in case there was an outbreak.

1. Pawn shop and steal guns
2. Wal-mart for ammo to said guns
3. Kroger for food
4. Climb up on roof of dorm with all supplies and barricade windows
5. Commence firing and have fun.
6. Bullet to the brain when death is inevitable OR jump in car and rinse & repeat.

My personal weapons would be:
M-1 Garand (I own one)
12-Gauge
.45 M1911 or Glock .40

dude, you and your friends are dumbasses. Walmart can handle the first four of your steps to a zombie invasion. While you are running around from store to store you are more likely to get caught by some zombies, especially the fast ones. Just head to a Super Walmart - guns, ammo, food and a high roof that is easily accessible. And to think people rag on Walmart so.

 

[TallBill]

Originally posted by: roguerower
My friends and I came up with our zombie survival plan in case there was an outbreak.

1. Pawn shop and steal guns
2. Wal-mart for ammo to said guns
3. Kroger for food
4. Climb up on roof of dorm with all supplies and barricade windows
5. Commence firing and have fun.
6. Bullet to the brain when death is inevitable OR jump in car and rinse & repeat.

My personal weapons would be:
M-1 Garand (I own one)
12-Gauge
.45 M1911 or Glock .40

Yeah, because nobody else will be going to said places for survival supplies. I'm just short on food, but I already have your weapons

 

[sdifox]

RIM is probably behind the research... They are already looking at Zombies as potential Blackberry customers.


PS using U of Ottawa instead of Waterloo is to throw off suspicion.

 

[Gigantopithecus]

Originally posted by: CPA
I wonder how much the Canadian government, via university funding, paid to have these researchers "research" this?

It's less an exercise in modeling zombie outbreaks and more an illustration of how math can be used to get a better understanding of both usual & unusual disease dynamics.

Considering the common criticisms that research science is too esoteric or downright boring, I think this is a kickass example of how good science can be *gasp* entertaining.

 

[Gibsons]

How long can a zombie live with no brains to eat? Do they eventually die again or something?

 

[joesmoke]

Originally posted by: Gibsons
How long can a zombie live with no brains to eat? Do they eventually die again or something?

ive always wondered this. do they lay dormant waiting for a sniff of brain or finally fully die like the un-turned? also, at that point do they call it undying?

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: FYIImaSpy
I've read World War Z and Zombie Survival Guide. I'm ready.

This.

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

Originally posted by: joesmoke

Originally posted by: Gibsons
How long can a zombie live with no brains to eat? Do they eventually die again or something?

ive always wondered this. do they lay dormant waiting for a sniff of brain or finally fully die like the un-turned? also, at that point do they call it undying?

Well in the real world of physics they would have to have some energy source to keep the body "alive" so it can move and function. It is possible that the body could eat itself like a person that starves to death, so they would eventually die without obtaining brains or other edible matter.

I'm ready though. I have the guns, I have the ammo, I have a full tang, practical katana that will cut through flesh and bone, plus a Cold Steel machete. I just need to secure a war wagon for the trip to the hills.

It doesn't seem the Canadians took into account for cross infection of other species. We see that things like Avian Flu and Swine Flu can affect animals as well as people. Why wouldn't the zombie plague do the same? IF it did then we are all fucked unless we can contain it very early with nuclear strikes to completely irradicate entire areas. If we ended up with zombie animals there would be no way of stopping it, short of total destruction of areas infected and then going after the "clean areas around that just to be sure.

 

[Gothgar]

Originally posted by: Gigantopithecus
The research paper is here if anyone is interested in looking at the models...

awesome

 

[Triumph]

Originally posted by: TallBill
I don't need a Canadian to tell me that.

I don't need a research paper to tell me that!