ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE WHERE DID ZOMBIES START Zombies originated

ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE

WHERE DID ZOMBIES START? • Zombies originated in Haiti as a part of their religion. A priest/necromancer/bokor summons the soul of a dead person, bringing the body back to life. • . Bokors capture the spirit in a jar, feeding off of it. By harnessing the person’s soul the bokor is able to control the spirit and use its energy to increase their magic. • Eventually the Haitian religion made it over to America and evolved to the religion of Voodoo.

RECENT ZOMBIES IN HAITI • The Haitian people (85% of the population) still practice Voodoo. Many are not afraid of zombies, but rather of being turned against your will. • Zombies are even mentioned in Haitian folklore, with the Haitian word "zombi" meaning "spirit of the dead. " These tales showed voodoo priests who had the ability to resurrect the deceased through the administration of a magic powder. And according to legend, "In Haiti a zombi is someone who has annoyed his or her family and community to the degree that they can no longer stand to live with this person. They respond by hiring a Bokor, a vodoun priest who practices black magic and sorcery, to turn them into a zombi, “ • http: //www. thepunch. com. au/articles/A-walking-talking-real-life-zombie-from-Haiti/

ZOMBIES IN POP CULTURE – THE ZOMBIE VIRUS • Pop culture favors turning people into Zombies by a virus. The virus starts at ‘patient zero’ and is spread through exchange of bodily fluids – being bitten or coughed on. The exchange is very easy and the virus spreads rapidly. • Once the virus is in the blood stream, the virus makes it way to the brain • The virus shuts down large portions of the brain, mostly the higher thinking portion that triggers memories, morality. The body’s healing capabilities are halted, leaving the body to slowly die. The main part of the brain that still functions are large motor skills, homeostasis and the need to feed.

ALTERNATE ZOMBIE CAUSES • Rage virus – 28 days later • Starts with experiments on apes and chimps. They are exposed to violent images. This causes a psychological change, an aggressive, feral change. • The animals are freed by an activist group. The primates attack while being freed. The primates were given a forced adaptation (environmental cause). The adaptation is inserted in their DNA causing it to be inheritable. This leads to easier transmission from one primate to another. Humans are technically primates were able to be infected with other species were not.

CURE • Eradication - starve to death or eliminate food source • Destroy infected hosts • Research into disease prevention – never goes to far • Resistant to antibiotics • I am legend – the main character had the cure in his blood. He had the adaptation that allowed him to survive. (Remember the natural selection unit? He already had the adaptation that allowed him to survive) • In most cases there is no cure and the heroes are forced to survive and outlast the zombies.

ORIGIN OF ZOMBIE VIRUS • Rabies – one person becomes infected with rabies. The rabies mutates in the body causing it to evolve and shut down more of the brain. Rabies is very similar to the zombie virus but MUCH less severe and it is preventable. • Spores – a plant with neurotoxins is inhaled by the host. The spore multiples and spreads through the body. The spores enter the brain and start to take over the brain. This type of exposer is easier to pass on. It can become air borne, spreading through coughing and sneezing. EASIEST TO SPREAD. • Psychological – patient zero has a psychological problem (similar to rabies) that causes parts of the brain to shut down. The become primitive, hunting down others to eat. They regress to a feral state. • Drugs – bath salts degrade the brain causing neurons in the brain to lose connection. These faulty connections cause the brain to act differently and eventually evolve to the psychological cause.

POPULAR ZOMBIE MOVIES/TV • World War Z • Warm Bodies • I Am Legend • Zombieland • Walking Dead • 28 days later • Shaun of the Dead • Quarantine • Living Dead series • Evil Dead

POPULAR ZOMBIE BOOKS • Frankenstein • Patient Zero • Walking dead comics • Newsflesh Trilogy • World War Z • As the World Dies • Zombie Survival Guide • Pride, prejudice and Zombies

POPULAR ZOMBIE VIDEO GAMES • Call of Duty: Black Ops zombies • Last of Us • Dead Island • House of the Dead series • Dead Nation • Resident Evil • Dying Light (coming soon) • Doom • Left for Dead • Half life series