"The Walking Dead" (Photo : Screen Rant)
As shown in AMC's "The Walking Dead", zombies can overrun a city, say the size of Chicago, in matter of days or to be specific in around 60 days. In just two months, a quick spreading virus is able to complete the zombie apocalypse and scientists have an existing model to support such a horrifying scenario.
Argonne researchers came up with a virus spread model, loosely based on how infectious diseases like Ebola swiftly explode, that predicted how the civilized world is turned into the land of the undead. The forecast: if a zombie virus breaks in a city like Chicago, the zombification will be quick.
The model, showcased in a 15-second clip (can be viewed below), indicated that in just 28 days the city will fall and even with active intervention such as vaccine distribution or military actions to eliminate the infected that are beyond saving, a full-blown zombie apocalypse would be in full effect.
By day 60, about half a million of Chicago residents will be dead or according to CNET are inanimate zombies provided the virus that hit the city was the same that ravaged Atlanta, which is the setting for The Walking Dead. In the AMC TV series, everyone is infected and becomes zombie after death.
At the same time, CNET said there will be two million of the undead or walkers that roam around that will only accelerate the spread of the virus. And not to mention that these walkers are out to satisfy the cravings for human flesh.
But to be clear, the zombies to expect are the slow-moving and rotting walkers and not the superfast monsters seen in the Hollywood movie "World War Z". CNET said that in terms of depiction, AMC's take on the zombie apocalypse is more believable and more accurate as far as science is concerned.
The report noted too when Rick Grimes woke up after nearly 60 days in coma and found that zombies have taken over the city was just spot on as affirmed by the Argonne report.
The Argonne zombie apocalypse model also factored in what chief researcher Chick Macal described as "great promise for countering the zombie apocalypse in Chicago." Mainly, the approach is a mixture of offense and defense to turn back the swarm of the undead.
What was left out though, as noted by CNET, is the possible rise of the opposite of Grimes and company - the likes of the Governor and the bat-wielding Negan, who are more concerned for self-preservation than restoring the former state of humanity.
