Scientists Warn The Zombie Apocalypse May Be In Our Near Future Thanks To This 'Zombie Disease'

Zombie lore has existed for an awfully long time, but when it reached cinematic entertainment, that's really where our obsession began. Today, millions of people are literally obsessed with TV series like The Walking Dead, and we've almost gotten to the point of romanticizing the idea of a real-life zombie apocalypse.

(I'm looking at you and your unhealthy love for Daryl Dixon, Debra.) Of course, not everyone is thinking about how much fun it would be to blast zombies into oblivion in a post-apocalyptic setting, but that doesn't mean those people aren't also a little obsessed with the concept.

Some individuals have even gone so far as to prepare emergency bunkers, and they're not for a nuclear war (though, especially lately, that has seemed a lot more likely). They are genuinely preparing to survive a zombie apocalypse.

I'm sure a few retailers out there are ecstatic to hook you up with all the survival gear you think you'll need, though. Giphy

Now, for those of you left scoffing at the very idea, you should know that all perceptions of the potential zombie apocalypse are no longer mere flights of fancy. They may very well be our reality, and it's all thanks to a rare disease called CWD (chronic wasting disease) that, so far, only presents itself in deer.

... but it might transfer to human beings. Yikes.

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According to www.cwd-info.org, Chronic Wasting Disease is as follows:

Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is a contagious neurological disease affecting deer, elk, and moose. It causes a characteristic spongy degeneration of the brains of infected animals, resulting in emaciation, abnormal behavior, loss of bodily functions, and death.

Currently, it has only been affecting a few species of deer (like elk, mule deer, white-tailed deer, and moose), but it is spreading at an alarming rate in both the US and Canada. While the deer certainly aren't eating each other, the process from healthy and alive to death sure sounds like the plotline of nearly every zombie movie I've ever seen:

The infection attacks the spinal cord and other tissues, resulting in dramatic weight loss, lack of coordination, and aggression! Then, of course, death.

Sounds like too much of a coincidence to me.

Tumblr CWD is known as 'Zombie Deer Disease' because of the progression and symptoms of the illness.WWMD According to the experts: "Currently, there is no evidence that CWD poses a risk for humans; however, public health officials recommend that human exposure to the CWD infectious agent be avoided as they continue to evaluate any potential health risk."YouTube Zombie fanatics right now:Giphy

It's complicated.

This disease only emerged a mere 50 years ago, and it can take years for symptoms to become apparent. This makes avoiding human exposure complicated.MDC

Mark Zabel, associate director of the Prion Research Center at Colorado State University, told CPR:

It’s only a matter of time before a prion emerges that can spread to humans.

Because:

While extensive disease surveillance in Canada and elsewhere has not provided any direct evidence that CWD has infected humans, the potential for CWD to be transmitted to humans cannot be excluded. In exercising precaution, HPFB continues to advocate that the most prudent approach is to consider that CWD has the potential to infect humans.

Anyway, count me in as one of the weirdos excited for a zombie apocalypse.Giphy Popsugar