The Undead: Myths and Realities

So, not everything you hear about the animated cadavers (Zombies, if you will) is true! The theory that claims that the living dead is caused by supernatural forces is indeed a fallacy! The dead walk because of a virus called Solanum that multiplies cells in the brain and causes many other organs to cease to function, including the heart. The person is technically dead, but is animated because of the new being operating in place of the brain. Sounds painful...
Chapter Outline:
I. SOLANUM: THE VIRUS
   1. Source: The source of Solanum is unknown.
   2. Symptoms: Injury, fever, other sick symptoms, numbness, paralysis, coma, death, then reanimation.
   3. Transference: Solanum can only be passed through a bite of some sort.
   4. Cross-Species Infection: Only humans can reanimate with Solanum.
   5. Treatment: There is no cure, only disposal of a body.
   6. Reanimating the Already Deceased: Dead can only be reanimated if they got Solanum while alive.
II. Zombie Attributes
   1. Physical Abilities: Contrary to beliefs presented Zombies do NOT have superpowers!
      A. Sight: Zombies have poor eyesight, but can still see.
      B. Sound: Zombies have great hearing.
      C. Smell: Zombies have a decent sense of smell.
      D. Taste: Zombies don't taste, but for some reason they prefer to eat humans?
      E. Touch: Zombies nerves don't work, so they feel no pain.
      F. Sixth Sense: Zombies possibly have a sixth sense.
      G. Healing: Zombies can't regenerate wounded body parts.
      H. Decomposition: Solanum helps preserve the Zombie, so their life lasts up to a few years.
      I. Digestion: Zombies don't digest, they just eat until their abdomen explodes.
      J. Respiration: The lungs of a Zombie still function, but is unnecessary.
      K. Circulation: The circulatory system isn't necessary for Zombies.
      L. Reproduction: Zombies are sterile.
      M. Strength: Zombies have as much strength as they did when they were human.
      N. Speed: Zombies are slow because of their lack of coordination.
      O. Agility: Zombies have very poor agility because of their primitive thought process.
   2. Behavioral Patterns
      A. Intelligence: Zombies have no intelligence.
      B. Emotion: Zombies only feel anger.
      C. Memory: Zombies know no memory of their former life.
      D. Physical Needs: Zombies only need hunger.
      E. Communication: Zombies know no language and can only moan.
      F. Social Dynamics: Zombies don't interact in any way, shape, or form.
      G. Hunting: Zombies have a random, nomadic, migratory way of hunting without any place to return to.
      H. Motivation: Zombies kill because the instinct given by the Solanum.
      I. Killing the Dead: You must kill a Zombie by destroying its brain.
      J. Disposal: Cremation is the safest form of disposal.
      K. Domestication?: Zombies cannot be healed or trained.
   3. The Voodoo Zombie: Voodoo Zombies have been buried alive as humans and awaken with brain damage. They aren't real Zombies, they just believe they are.
      A. They show emotion.
      B. They exhibit thought.
      C. They feel pain.
      D. They recognize fire.
      E. They recognize surroundings.
      F. They don't have hypersense.
      G. They can communicate.
      H. They can be controlled.
   4. The Hollywood Zombie: Traits of Zombies in movies are very inaccurate.
   5. Outbreaks: How you can know if there is a possible outbreak:
      A. When many dead people are found decapitated.
      B. Number of Missing Persons grows.
      C. When stories of people attacking their families and friends surface.
      D. Riots with lack of provocation occur.
      E. When people die of unknown disease.
      F. Always be aware of these symptoms of Zombie outbreaks!
This chapter was interesting because it taught how to recognize Zombies, what they can and can't do, weaknesses, strengths, and how to kill them. The author mentioned that Zombies in movies aren't actual Zombies because they're normally portrayed to have superpowers and be able to communicate. Also, the concept of a Voodoo Zombie was introduced to me; I always thought Voodoo Zombies were people that had a spell cast over them to turn them instantly into Zombies. Turns out, the people who are turning victims into Zombies are sprinkling them with Zombie Powder, which causes temporary paralysis and unconsciousness, and then burying them alive. If the victim survives, then they have most likely suffered brain damage from being underground with almost no oxygen. The brain damaged individual is said to become a Zombie, event thought they are not actual Zombies.