ZOMBIE INFECTION: ASYMPTOMATIC VS. INCUBATION

The Zombie Research Society has discussed asymptomatic carriers in regards to the zombie virus several times. From Typhoid Mary to the Swine Flu, the evidence suggests that many infected individuals had no idea that they were contagious. The very name “asymptomatic” literally means “without symptoms” and is often incorrectly depicted in zombie fiction as immunity or incubation. So, what is the difference between incubation and asymptomatic?

Perhaps the most surprising aspect of an asymptomatic disease is that you may actually have symptoms! The term itself can be used to describe an illness that is symptom-free for only part of the time. For example, the National Library of Medicine describes asymptomatic as having simply “recovered from an illness or condition and no longer have symptoms” of that particular disease. Obviously, this definition would not apply to the inevitable zombie virus.

According to the official ZRS definition of any zombie as a “relentlessly aggressive human, or reanimated human corpse, driven by a biological infection” combined with our zombie decay theory – it’s highly unlikely that someone would recover from such a virus. Instead, we may often be referring to “pre-symptomatic” individuals. And, per both the National Collaborating Centre for Infectious Diseases and Lynne Eldridge, MD via Verywell Health online :

It’s hard to know whether an asymptomatic condition will eventually cause symptoms or not. If you have an asymptomatic condition like high blood pressure or diabetes, you may have to make healthcare decisions to try to improve your long-term quality of life or survival.

If you have an asymptomatic disease that is contagious, you may need to take steps to prevent spreading the condition to other people.

However, an asymptomatic finding doesn’t always mean you should, or can, do anything to change the situation. In some cases, the early detection of a condition will not lead to an improved quality of life or greater survival. In this case, additional testing and medical interventions would not be helpful—in fact, they could be harmful.

It’s pretty clear that detecting the zombie virus early would not lead to an improved quality of life or greater survival. We’re not talking about hypertension, hepatitis, or diabetes here. This zombie contagion would obviously resist recovery, remission, or medication (at least for now).

Because the undead often spread their infection via bite wounds, particularly on your fingers or hands as we’ve previously mentioned, the idea of a truly asymptomatic zombie is incredibly unlikely. A true zombie would be “relentlessly aggressive” which implies that the disease itself is spread by violently attacking their victims; clawing, scratching, biting, etc. Why would any asymptomatic person attack, bite, or eat their fellow survivors? Clearly, the inevitable zombie apocalypse will be the result of some sort of pre-symptomatic or incubating virus or infection.

What then of incubation? We’ll followup on that discuss soon. But for now, take a look at the articles above and consider your fellow traveler who just happened to “survive” that recent zombie attack. He might say that everything is okay, he may even look okay and show no symptoms. But always be careful and vigilant… because what you don’t know could eat you!