Fungal Infection is 'Possible' to Cause a Pandemic, Like 'The Last of Us' Zombies?

It is known that "The Last of Us" is a work of fiction that imagines a dystopian world where it is overrun by zombies, or the undead, via a fungal infection that altered their minds, behavior, and diet. However, in the latest interview with a mycologist and researcher of fungi, a fungal pandemic may be "possible" to take place in the world.

This does not mean that there already is a pandemic brewing to clear things up, but this is a possible scenario in the future should it be unprevented, like in the Naughty Dog game.

Fungal Pandemic is 'Possible' in the World Says an Expert

According to Insider, "The Last of Us's" main plot is about a fungal pandemic that occurred surprisingly one day and led to infecting many people and transforming them into zombies, which made its viewers wonder.

The report also included interviews with experts, particularly those centering on mycology, to answer this question for the public.

A University of Manchester mycologist studying fungal infections, Norman Van Rhijn, answered "yes," saying that it is possible.

Additionally, Tom Chiller, chief of fungal diseases from the United States Center for Disease Control and Prevention said, "I am not going to be surprised that more fungi emerge as human pathogens that become more challenging to treat and more infectious."

'The Last of Us' To Happen In Real Life?

Interesting Engineering said that the show's main reason as to why there are infections is Cordyceps, which blooms on zombies' heads- but it cannot possibly infect humans as it fails to thrive at the normal body temperature.

However, there are other brain and behavior-altering fungi known to man, one that can gravely affect their perception and actions, and maybe a possible reason for losing one's mind. "The Last of Us's" story has a close tie to real life, but it is not yet happening, or at least not yet a full-blown epidemic or pandemic.

Zombies, Is It Possible?

What makes a zombie? Well, one of the main factors of these mythological corporeal beings is dying and coming back to life, with its most distinguishable feature being its cravings for the human brain. They are also referred to as the undead, and it also has close relations to a person's brain which transform them into a cannibalistic walking dead.

The way to transform into a zombie is through infection, and this is via being bitten, eaten, or acquiring the virus, then briefly dying and coming back to life.

There was also a study on wasps that can transform spiders into zombies, and it is through hacking their brains and making them mindless creatures that hunt for prey.

In the fictional and pop culture world, there are many origin stories or reasons as to why people become zombies, including biological weapons, the spread of a virus, the altering of brain genes, or animals bringing this among humans. However, games, movies, and books aside, there is a possibility that a fungal infection may transform people into these horrific creatures, similar to "The Last of Us" origin.