What would Really happen during the first stages of a "Zombie" Apocalypse?

With the recent rash (or at least recent rash of reporting) incidents like the Miami face-eater in the news, it got me thinking as to exactly how the authorities would respond initially to the beginning of such an outbreak.

Now, I'm not really talking about walking corpses here. I'd think (and hope) that's pure fantasy. However, the idea of a Rage-like virus (see 28 Days, etc.) isn't really all that far-fetched. We even have a good candidate with a near 100% mortality rate (if not treated)....RABIES.

So, if a mutated strain (maybe a weaponized form) did make it's way into the populace, how would the authorities respond?

I tried to put myself in their shoes.

1. I'd try to capture the infected persons
2. I'd try to determine how it spread, who also may be infected
3. In the absence of knowing what is to blame for it, I'd likely let the media guess, only correcting when we know what it is.
4. If we made it, I'd go with a cover story....crazed drug addict sounds plausible.

I'm suddenly more worried.

Still though, bites and scratches are a pretty ineffective way to thoroughly spread a virus. So there is that.

they'd probably contain as many as possible as they'd need "volunteers" for the doctors to work on but once they have enough lab rats i'd imagine that if they can't be reasoned with and they're very virulent then its break out the shotguns and the zombie ammo to reduce the risks followed by teams to burn the bodies to reduce infection chance

but the main thing is to to keep them away from Brains as who knows what a drunk zombie will do

Can we please get a zombie forum?

Just askin

reply to post by Gazrok


People would think it was a hoax.

Then the zombies, many of them having read the Zombie Survival Guide, would attack us in places we thought safe, and in ways we thought impossible, because of past memories surfacing in what is left of their brains.

Then the Republicans would bitch and moan about lost jobs and health care and blame it on the President.

I think we should slap those zombies with international sanctions. That will show them who is boss.

reply to post by Gazrok


id need a new pair of pants!

Originally posted by amongus
Can we please get a zombie forum?

Just askin

Great idea amongus, they must be at least a handful of new Zombie threads every day! Easily enough content to justify having one.

reply to post by amongus


all you do is moan! your on here doing it now

...next in the news....the dow dropped 250 points.

Zombies? What zombies, there are no zombies. Why, because the economy is torn to shreds. Why would zombies attack when the economy is in the toilet, just is not possible.

reply to post by Gazrok


i think they would try to contain and destroy and in larger population areas would bomb, wipe out completly not caring for un infected, i also think with everyone on edge these days there would rioting, murder, theft, and rebellion in some areas.either way its gonna be bad

I think the whole "Zombie" thing is just a PTB psy-op.

It fits in with the PTB goals to dehumanize us, instill fear and distract us from the real issues.

I'm quite frankly surprised an ATS moderator would be promoting discussions on this doom porn.

First they will determine where it has spread to.

They will quarantine that area, probably take infected blood samples.

I guess the CDC or whatever will find out what the nature of the virus is (is it a mutation of a known virus or a wholly new virus)

People will eventually start eating other people

Media will pick up and report

If everyone goes hysterical, government will intervene to calm the masses

Seal off the area once they find out how it spreads

Military/National Guard will be posted on all exits to the area.

Try to find a cure/vaccine

Government + CDC will try to find out origins of virus

require mandatory vaccinations of the virus

Either cure or kill indivuduals in the initial area

One worried mother will not get her son vaccinated

Zombie outbreak

I think Micheal Jackson fortold of the coming Zombie Apocolypse...



Apparently there will be much singing and dancing.

Zombie Forum Please!

Originally posted by Gazrok
So, if a mutated strain (maybe a weaponized form) did make it's way into the populace, how would the authorities respond?

I tried to put myself in their shoes.

1. I'd try to capture the infected persons [color=cyan] The RFID chips should keep a good survey of the infection spread so it SHOULD be easy to find them (if thats true about rfid chips)
2. I'd try to determine how it spread, who also may be infected[color=cyan] The RFID chips should keep a good survey of the infection spread so it SHOULD be easy to find them (if thats true about rfid chips)

3. In the absence of knowing what is to blame for it, I'd likely let the media guess, only correcting when we know what it is.[color=cyan] I would try to get on ATS before it got blacked out to see if there are any supposed large explosions but were really infection zones being terminated (what can be used to cover the large explosions)

4. If we made it, I'd go with a cover story....crazed drug addict sounds plausible.

I'm suddenly more worried.

Still though, bites and scratches are a pretty ineffective way to thoroughly spread a virus. So there is that.

[color=cyan] maybe some SPORE release of some kind or material that can remain airborn interesting OP.

I would think that the CDC(or like programs) would get involved fairly quickly. Quarantines would be issued for effected locations, flights and other public transportation would be restricted, Mail and other shipments restricted as well. Then they would do blood and other test to find a way to distinguish the virus/bacteria/chemical composite as well as discovering how it was being passed and its incubation period. Then they would weed out the infected from the at risk from the cleared to go. Then they would concentrate on a way to kill the virus/bacteria/chemical composite and then administer it to the public starting with the effected that survive, then the at risk and so on. That's how I would think it would be done anyway.

Edit to add: mr10k said it pretty well while I was replying. Although I didn't state it in my post I agree the National guard would probably be called in to enforce the quarantine, also stated by mr10k

I reckon this is how the legend of Jesus came about. Though he never existed, enough posts were chizzled into the long forgotten ATS rock wall of the time that people began to assume, then believe he had actually lived! One thing that has always amazed me about this place is how the culture of television has influenced the belief systems of far to many people

reply to post by PlanetXisHERE

I'm quite frankly surprised an ATS moderator would be promoting discussions on this doom porn.

I think you misunderstand my intentions.

I agree that the idea of real zombies (i.e. walking dead) is ludicrous in the extreme.

However, the idea of a virus that makes people BEHAVE like zombies (i.e. like a guy eating another guy's face off, getting shot, and still not ending his meal) isn't so far off the mark.

So, my premise then is....how would the official reaction be? Would they tell us right away that they suspect it's a weaponized virus that got loose....or would they come up with a cover story about how some drug is making people do it?

The reality is, a disease spread by bites is pretty easy to contain. However, if the coverup story prevented people from knowing the true cause, could it reach an epidemic stage? I doubt the answer is yes, but THIS is the type of thing I'm talking about....not walking dead.

In a true zombie apocalypse, I'd be MUCH more afraid of the other survivors than of fragile, mindless, walking corpses. The other survivors are a much more immediate threat.

As for it's own forum, it's been discussed, but not everyone is convinced there's enough content to warrant it.

So, back to the scenario. Some kind of virus starts to spread, making people go basically crazy, and mindlessly attack others with the apparent goal of consuming their flesh. If you're the official in charge...do you tell the truth or do you go with a coverup and hope for rapid containment?

I have to think (as a normal person) I'd go with the coverup and not be fired for revealing something (assuming it was a weaponized virus that got out). But, unofficially, I'd leak the story. Of course, at what point would the authorities cop to the real cause? When a small town is infected, a city? Never?

I'd agree with the CDC response, although if maintaining a cover story, it would likely be far more clandestine in it's approach.

I'd also agree that it really only has a shot of being an epidemic if it's in an airborne form. If spread this way, we'd have a serious problem that could certainly make something like 28 Days a reality. (I hate fast zombies...I'd much rather deal with the slow walker type).

reply to post by Gazrok


Okay, I get it. And I applaud your choice of action, following orders and covering it up, but staying alive to warn the populace. Many public/overt whistleblowers these days seemed to have shortened lifespans.

personally the moment i'm aware something of that nature is taking place,
assuming the roads are clear for the time being,
a) I throw a bunch of water and food in the car and head to the closest armoury/police car/detachment to arm up with a shotgun, handgun, baton and flashlight. stock up the ammo in the trunk, extra gas cans, head to value village or canadian tire, home depot etc. for perfect camping gear or necessities I see on the fly.

b) get out of the city and attempt to either head down into the US to find a small town to settle into or head east/north into BC wilderness to likewise find another small town preferrably.

if A and B fail, plan C is to go into a sniper survival mode, kill any who get near me, maintain distance and search out a commune to establish a base.

at that point i'd probably just join the government forces as a grunt infantry