leads to the second, more common way, the virus is spread.
Like most living organisms, the Z-virus has the overriding goal to live and to reproduce. Using its new host corpse, the virus attempts to spread itself by attacking noninfected humans. To spread, the virus must penetrate a victimâs skin and infect the tissue beneath, which can be done with a quick bite or rake with fingernails. A wound that draws blood carries a nearly 100 percent chance of infection.
Viral zombies are not cannibalistic. Although they often attack with their mouths and may occasionally get a bit overenthusiastic in their efforts to infect prey, they do not need to ingest flesh or anything else to survive. As of yet, science has no explanation for what viral zombies use as a power source. So, unlike atomic zombies, viral zombies often infect a host, leave him or her wounded, and quickly move on to the next target. Because of this methodology, viral zombie outbreaks can rapidly and exponentially expand. In truth, it is this expansion potential that is their biggest threat, and why it is imperative that outbreaks be quickly identified and contained.
IDENTIFICATION AND THREAT
One of the main reasons it took science so long to identify viral zombies as a separate classification is that the initial specimens appeared so similar in character to atomic zombies. All of the Chinese and Vietnamese outbreaks featured slow, moaning zombies. With their containment and elimination, few further tests were conducted. But as the years passed and the virus spread, different zombie outbreaks showed a worrying degree of individualism. Some zombies moved and reacted quicker. Others showed slightly more intelligence. Now, science understands this to be the result of Z-virus mutation. Today, there are 47 different recognized strands of Z-virus, and each produces a different variety of zombie. Luckily, even with this variation, all viral zombies still show enough similarities that they can be discussed underthe same classification. In fact, the differences generally manifest as varying levels of speed and intelligence and not as any truly unique features.
As mentioned, the first viral zombies mimicked atomic zombies in almost every way, except that they were not cannibalistic and reproduced through infection. These early viral zombies do still occasionally crop up, but their threat has mostly been contained. It is the newer âfast zombiesâ that now pose the greatest threat. Often called âaggressor zombiesâ in hunter circles, these undead are the most human-looking of all zombie varieties. At a distance it is nearly impossible to distinguish them from the living. A closer inspection reveals them to be unnaturally pale, with eyes rolled back into their heads. They almost always keep their mouths open and their teeth bared. In fact, the easiest way of recognizing a viral zombie, especially an aggressor, is how it charges directly at the nearest living person.
At the highest end yet recorded, aggressor zombies can run as fast as a living person. Moreover, with no functioning respiratory system or pain receptors, they are able to maintain a top sprinting speed for longer than most humans. In a straight footrace, aggressor zombies nearly always win. The same applies to hand-to-hand combat. These zombies can push their muscles to the limit longer than most humans. Considering that viral zombies only need to inflict a blood-wound, hand-tohand combat should be avoided at all costs.
Viral zombies do not use weapons. It is unclear if this is due to a lack of intelligence or just a function of their drive to spread infection. There are no reports of them using tools of any kind, and like most other zombies, they will continuously ram themselves against a door in order to break it down without ever attempting to turn a doorknob. That said, unlike atomic zombies, some of the more aggressive viral zombies can climb. They will not attempt to scale the side of
Like most living organisms, the Z-virus has the overriding goal to live and to reproduce. Using its new host corpse, the virus attempts to spread itself by attacking noninfected humans. To spread, the virus must penetrate a victimâs skin and infect the tissue beneath, which can be done with a quick bite or rake with fingernails. A wound that draws blood carries a nearly 100 percent chance of infection.
Viral zombies are not cannibalistic. Although they often attack with their mouths and may occasionally get a bit overenthusiastic in their efforts to infect prey, they do not need to ingest flesh or anything else to survive. As of yet, science has no explanation for what viral zombies use as a power source. So, unlike atomic zombies, viral zombies often infect a host, leave him or her wounded, and quickly move on to the next target. Because of this methodology, viral zombie outbreaks can rapidly and exponentially expand. In truth, it is this expansion potential that is their biggest threat, and why it is imperative that outbreaks be quickly identified and contained.
IDENTIFICATION AND THREAT
One of the main reasons it took science so long to identify viral zombies as a separate classification is that the initial specimens appeared so similar in character to atomic zombies. All of the Chinese and Vietnamese outbreaks featured slow, moaning zombies. With their containment and elimination, few further tests were conducted. But as the years passed and the virus spread, different zombie outbreaks showed a worrying degree of individualism. Some zombies moved and reacted quicker. Others showed slightly more intelligence. Now, science understands this to be the result of Z-virus mutation. Today, there are 47 different recognized strands of Z-virus, and each produces a different variety of zombie. Luckily, even with this variation, all viral zombies still show enough similarities that they can be discussed underthe same classification. In fact, the differences generally manifest as varying levels of speed and intelligence and not as any truly unique features.
As mentioned, the first viral zombies mimicked atomic zombies in almost every way, except that they were not cannibalistic and reproduced through infection. These early viral zombies do still occasionally crop up, but their threat has mostly been contained. It is the newer âfast zombiesâ that now pose the greatest threat. Often called âaggressor zombiesâ in hunter circles, these undead are the most human-looking of all zombie varieties. At a distance it is nearly impossible to distinguish them from the living. A closer inspection reveals them to be unnaturally pale, with eyes rolled back into their heads. They almost always keep their mouths open and their teeth bared. In fact, the easiest way of recognizing a viral zombie, especially an aggressor, is how it charges directly at the nearest living person.
At the highest end yet recorded, aggressor zombies can run as fast as a living person. Moreover, with no functioning respiratory system or pain receptors, they are able to maintain a top sprinting speed for longer than most humans. In a straight footrace, aggressor zombies nearly always win. The same applies to hand-to-hand combat. These zombies can push their muscles to the limit longer than most humans. Considering that viral zombies only need to inflict a blood-wound, hand-tohand combat should be avoided at all costs.
Viral zombies do not use weapons. It is unclear if this is due to a lack of intelligence or just a function of their drive to spread infection. There are no reports of them using tools of any kind, and like most other zombies, they will continuously ram themselves against a door in order to break it down without ever attempting to turn a doorknob. That said, unlike atomic zombies, some of the more aggressive viral zombies can climb. They will not attempt to scale the side of
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