Zombie Abstract

This paper shows the first mathematical analysis of various scenarios of a possible outbreak of a zombie infection. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the flexibility of mathematical modelling and to show how modelling can respond to a wide variety of challenges in ‘biology’. That is to say, the paper is instructive to develop mathematical models for an unusual outbreak. Different models are being used which show various scenarios of a possible outbreak of a zombie infection. They are all based on a specific type of zombie which is slow moving, cannibalistic and undead. First of all, within the Basic Model three individuals are considered - Susceptible (S) - humans who have become zombies, Zombie (Z) and Removed (R ) - susceptibles who deceased through a (non-)zombie-related-death. Secondly, the Model with Latent Infection suggests that susceptibles first become infected and only then turn into zombies. The third model is called the Model with Quarantine which assumes that the quarantine of zombies may contain the outbreak. According to another model, the Model with Treatment, a cure might allow zombies to return to their human form again. Lastly, the Model of Impulsive Eradication, shows that the zombie population can be controlled by strategically destroying the zombies. The use of different models led to different results. However, the outbreak of zombies infecting humans is likely to lead to the collapse of civilisation, unless extremely aggressive tactics, such as aggressive quarantine or sufficiently frequent attacks with increasing force, are employed against the undead. In conclusion, all of these scenarios demonstrate the flexibility of mathematical modelling and show that the modelling of an outbreak of zombie infection is useful for measuring infectious diseases.