Last of Us

Many movies, books, and video games in these modern times like to be based on global pandemics. What I think makes these stories intriguing is the very real possibility of them happening. Of course I am not talking about zombies and mutant people, but actual disease pandemics that can decimate populations. In this article, we will be discussing the possibility of a fungal pandemic like the one depicted in the incredible video game The Last of Us.

In the video game, 60% of the world's population (4.25 billion people) are wiped out by a fungal parasite that takes control of the human brain. Can a pandemic like that actually happen? Well, we only have to go back to 1918 to learn about one of the most deadly diseases in human history, the Spanish flu. This strand of influenza killed an estimated 100 million people in one year, which at the time was 5% of the world's population. To make matters worse, the Spanish flu came right after World War 1 which was not good for countries that were trying to recuperate from the war.

Influenza Hospital

But we are talking about fungal parasites that are able to take control of an organisms brain. Believe it or not they do exist. Cordyceps are a species of fungi that take control of insects, the most common one being Ophiocordyceps Unilateralis. This fungus lands on ants and infiltrates the body of the ant. It then proceeds to take control over the ant and makes the ant move to a desirable location. Usually this location is near an ant hill where the fungus can spread to more ants. This fungus has been known to decimate entire colonies. Fortunately for us it only infects ants, so we have nothing to worry about. Right?

Infected Ant

Wrong. 60% of modern diseases come from animals. For example, we get measles, tuberculosis, and smallpox we get from cattle. Additionally, we get the flu from pigs and birds, and we get AIDS from chimpanzees. So it is not entirely crazy to think that this fungus might someday evolve into something that can infect humans. The spread of disease may also be easier know due to the fact that anyone can travel from one side of the world to the other in a matter of hours. So when 60% of the world's population is wiped out from disease, society breaks down and the only thing left is, the last of us.

Sources: 

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=fungus-makes-zombie-ants

http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v447/n7142/full/nature05775.html