Our team has been working to train people for the coming Zombie Apocalypse through tools and tips learned in their various fields of expertise. We expect to give you the same tools and training to ensure your one of the survivors, and not part of the undead plague.
By keeping up to date on the latest literature, tools, and training we plan to show you how to stay healthy and avoid becoming one of the undead horde that will pillage humanity. So check back with us on a regular basis to ensure you are prepared to survive the Zombie Apocalypse
Viral Zombies: The Most Likely Outbreak
The Viral Zombie
Threat Level: Red
The virus that causes zombification in a human being is often referred to as Solanum. Though no known natural occurrence has ever been recorded, there is also no verifiable information linking the virus to human research as well.
First described my Max Brooks in “The Zombie Survival Guide,” Solanum enters the body, takes over the brain and creates a new organ out of it. The zombie no longer requires oxygen or ATP to move or interact with its environment. The virus also causes the zombies to desire living flesh with a particular interest in human flesh.
Possibly the most likely cause of an outbreak, and certainly the most frightening, the viral zombies are one of the most dangerous or the known zombie types.
Identification
A viral zombie looks exactly like what you would expect a zombie to look like. The flesh rots at a normal rate. The eyes take on a whitish hue, particularly over the irises. The skin atrophies and pulls away any orifice making the teeth stand out on the face in an unnatural, ghastly grimace.
These zombies do not bleed. All capillaries, veins, and arteries shut down. This makes damage to the flesh particularly easy to identify as the muscle fiber is exposed and bones show through as well. Lack of blood flow is also marked by the coagulation of the blood within the veins giving the zombies flesh a grey tone with lines of dark brown and black under the skin.
Above all the viral zombie is marked by it’s moan. While the ability to make vocalization would seem to be cut out, the zombie moan is one of the most frightening aspects of this particular type. The lungs seem to collapse forcing air out over the vocal chords whenever a live human is encountered.
This moan attracts other zombies, and since their sense of hearing in not diminished, the moan can be heard over miles when the wind is blowing in the right direction. Additionally, viral zombies make the sound whenever they encounter signs of human activity drawing more undead to their location. For this reason it is extremely important to hide or bury all signs of your presence during a viral zombie outbreak.
Spread
Spread of the viral zombie plague is through contact with the bodily fluids or infected flesh coming into contact with them. The virus is (as far as can be told) 100% infectious. Whenever contact with the Solanum virus occurs, the human will become a zombie.
This and their aggressiveness are the cause of the viral zombie being classified in the Red Threat level. Once the viral zombie is on the scent of its prey it will not stop until that prey has been consumed or the scent is lost completely. This aggressiveness can be used as a tactic against them which we will discuss later.
These zombies have the ability to survive in water regardless of depth. Reports from deep submergence vehicles have placed these zombies at depths that would kill normal humans (>7000ft./2100m. depths,) and they have even been seen wandering underwater thermal vents where temperatures reach over 750°F/400°C.
They also have the ability to reanimate after freezing. This causes a generational problem whereby zombies that have made it to northerly climes come back each Spring starting the spread all over again after they thaw.
Termination
Destruction of the brain cavity in any way possible is the best option for terminating the viral zombie. Detaching the head is not enough as the head remains animated without the body and will, if given the chance, bite anyone who gets too close. Slicing through or otherwise destroying the area occupied by the frontal lobe is the preferred method.
Fire is also a good termination method, but should be used only if controlled. Since the virus dries out the body by shutting down the blood flow, these zombies are extremely flammable. If you’re in an open area or an area enclosed by non-burning materials (e.g., rock, concrete, etc.) then fire is a good method for taking out a group. Remember, even though they’re on fire, they will still continue after you until the flesh has burned off, keep moving.
Because of their aggressive nature it is easy to trap these zombies in order to destroy them. Tactics range from gathering a group on an open plain and drawing the zombies to you, always making sure that you have enough ammo and an escape route, to drawing the zombies into a closed in area and lighting the entire group on fire.
Summary
The viral zombie can be researched further by reading “The Zombie Survival Guide” and “World War Z.” The most important thing to remember is the communicability of the Solanum virus. Any contact with zombified flesh and your bodily fluids is considered lethal. Anyone bitten should be terminated with prejudice.
Photo Credits: twenty_questions, uafcde
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There seems to be a great deal of confusion on whether or not zombies will attack animals, and if they do, will those animals become infected, simply die, or go on with their lives. As this video shows, some types of zombies will indeed attack animals that enter their vicinity, but this is not always the case.
Some types of zombies will indeed attack an animal, though those same types will typically attack any warm or moving object. Some types of zombies will only attack certain types of animals (e.g., mammals but not lizards,) and some types of zombies will only go after a human being.
To make this a little more straightforward we have come up with the following lists to help you in knowing whether or not your family pets are safe.
Zombies that Will Attack Animals:
Zombies that Will Only Attack Humans
- Chemical Zombies
- Nano-Zombies
- Techno-Zombies
- Other Miscellaneous
To understand how to identify each type of zombie, please click on the links above and review the various articles. This will advise you on how to identify your zombies, and find out whether they are a threat to only you, or if you need to protect your pets as well.
One important item to note when reviewing the articles, not all zombie types can be spread to your animals. So while you may want to protect Spot from being eaten, if he does get bitten, you do not necessarily need to put him out of his misery.
If your pet/horse/cow/sheep does receive a bite, and you are unsure what type of zombie you have encountered, the safest option is to put the animal down. We understand that this is difficult (nigh on impossible for some.) We are pet owners and animal lovers ourselves, and to have to put down your own animal is one of the most difficult decisions one can make, even if it isn’t due to an infected bite from a zombie.
That said, the infected pet is no longer the loving, caring creature you have shared time and adventures with. If not now, then soon it will turn into a vicious, ravenous creature with only your death in mind.
If you cannot bring yourself to put your pet down, and you have not been able to identify the type of zombie bite it has received, you have two options.
- Have an acquaintance do the dirty work for you. Do NOT let a friend do it. It will ruin your relationship completely. You will always question your decision, and if a friend has to put down your beloved pet, you will forever look at them with that question, and that anger. Make sure the person you ask is someone you either don’t like, or don’t have a close connection with. It will change your relationship with them as well, but it’s less likely to ruin a friendship. Ironically, it may even lead to a stronger connection with that person.
- Lock the possibly infected animal up and monitor it over the course of several days. An infection that can spread to an animal will show its signs within 72-120 hours (three to five days.) If your pet is still its same old self after that time, you can consider yourself reasonably safe and release them.
NOTE: We cannot stress enough how dangerous, and frankly stupid this option is. Primarily, keeping a potentially infected animal locked up for up to a week can cause issues of its own. What if you have to move because of a coming horde? What about the animals natural biological processes and the necessary cleanup? Where can you keep a horse locked up that where you can guarantee it won’t escape, break free, etc.?
Additionally, there is no guarantee that even after five, ten, or even 100 days that your pet is guaranteed infection free. All creatures have different resistances to infections. Your chihuahua may be naturally immune to the zombie bacteria, but can still pass it on if he bites you. The only way to guarantee your safety from your pet is to put it down, no matter how difficult the decision.
To be blunt, it’s you or them. In a war against the zombification of all humanity your pet may become collateral damage. It’s sad, it’s difficult to come to terms with, it’s your only guarantee for safety.
In the war against zombies, animals are often caught in the middle. Many people are forced to abandon their pets when they go on the run. Even more are turned and have no recollection of their family and friends, much less their pets.
While some animals are trained to help humanity against the zombie threats, many are left to fend for themselves and have been known to become a danger in themselves. Feral packs of both dogs, cats, and even escaped zoo animals have been known to roam urban wastelands after an outbreak.
For these reasons, we recommend that if you are a pet owner and you realize that an outbreak is occurring, please do something about your pets. They will not likely be able to make it through the outbreak alive, and may even become a danger to you and your survival group. We know it’s difficult, but it may become necessary.
Video Credit: VideoSlave
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Posted on December 21st, 2010 at 6:27 pm
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