As seen in Day of the Dead (I think that was the one) there is a way for the world to survive even assuming everyone turns when they die: burn/dismember bodies whenever/wherever you can right as they die. As population falls and safe zones crystallize this becomes more and more practical and effective.
Originally posted by Colossus-Big C
Romeo lore stole it from TWD
As I've pointed out in other numerous Zombie Outbreak threads & something that a majority of zombie movies don't touch on....
The amount of dead, rotting corpses, whether zombie or human littering the streets would lead to disease & pestilence on their own.
The surrounding air would be filled with noxious gases from rotting corpses making it impossible to breathe. Decaying matter would leach into the ground & our waterways making it dangerous to eat grown crops or drink water.
The threat from the amount of dead would easily outweigh the onslaught of zombies.
Originally posted by Lord Lucien
Hey if a bunch of Germans in the 40's found a way to incinerate millions of corpses, I'm sure 21st century everybody could find a way too.
So in a zombie outbreak, you'd be one of the good samaritans that would take the time & energy out of simply surviving & organise a community group that would dig massive burial pits & then collect the rotting dead to incinerate?
Apart from seeking food, fresh water & protecting yourself on a daily basis, you'd be willing to volunteer your energy to deal with the dead?
Originally posted by Esau Cairn
So in a zombie outbreak, you'd be one of the good samaritans that would take the time & energy out of simply surviving & organise a community group that would dig massive burial pits & then collect the rotting dead to incinerate?Apart from seeking food, fresh water & protecting yourself on a daily basis, you'd be willing to volunteer your energy to deal with the dead?
If you have an organized community put together, staying in one place, then part of that will have to be getting rid of dead bodies. That is part of simply surviving.
Originally posted by Symmetric Chaos
If you have an organized community put together, staying in one place, then part of that will have to be getting rid of dead bodies. That is part of simply surviving.
True.
As you've stated, "IF you have an organised community..."
But nothing's been established as to how humanity's reacted to the outbreak...
Is it total anarchy & chaos or has small groups of humans banded loosely together?
Plus the amount of food & water available, can you honestly waste your energy & strength in properly disposing of the dead?
Originally posted by Esau Cairn
True.
As you've stated, "IF you have an organised community..."But nothing's been established as to how humanity's reacted to the outbreak...
Is it total anarchy & chaos or has small groups of humans banded loosely together?
Plus the amount of food & water available, can you honestly waste your energy & strength in properly disposing of the dead?
A group that's moving wouldn't care about the amount of dead bodies lying around a given place. If you're sticking around you need to at leasy get rid of the disease that comes with rotting corpses or you'll be worse off than before plus the smell is probably destroying morale.
Originally posted by Esau CairnPersonally, no. That'd be gross.
So in a zombie outbreak, you'd be one of the good samaritans that would take the time & energy out of simply surviving & organise a community group that would dig massive burial pits & then collect the rotting dead to incinerate?Apart from seeking food, fresh water & protecting yourself on a daily basis, you'd be willing to volunteer your energy to deal with the dead?
It can be done though. A roving band won't be staying in a place infested with rot and disease (obviously, hence the "roving" part). So there will be no need for proper disposal. A large, organized group will though. No survivor worth his weight in grey matter would set up shop in an above-ground, body-strewn tomb. They'd either already be fortified in a position ahead of the horde, or would seek out a place to make such. Body disposal post-fortification won't be too risky. Incineration, burial away from the water table... not hard, so long as you have enough living bodies to carry out the labor. I'd prefer fire, myself. The stink may be awful, but you don't have to worry about digging up plots of land.
So long as the zombie bodies are eliminated ASAP, there will be minimal exposure to disease. Decay takes a while, and the living human immune system isn't so frail as to be unable to handle some fumes. Decent clothing/safety gear when handling the corpses to the zombie bonfire, maintaining good personal hygiene... common sense, really.
Originally posted by inimalist
... yes... the capability being to evade human quarantinereally, your scenario is much less of a zombie apocalypse and more of a pandemic outbreak. Any lethal virus with the "capabilities" you are talking about would end human civilization, zombies or not.
Originally posted by Lord Lucien
Personally, no. That'd be gross.It can be done though. A roving band won't be staying in a place infested with rot and disease (obviously, hence the "roving" part). So there will be no need for proper disposal. A large, organized group will though. No survivor worth his weight in grey matter would set up shop in an above-ground, body-strewn tomb. They'd either already be fortified in a position ahead of the horde, or would seek out a place to make such. Body disposal post-fortification won't be too risky. Incineration, burial away from the water table... not hard, so long as you have enough living bodies to carry out the labor. I'd prefer fire, myself. The stink may be awful, but you don't have to worry about digging up plots of land.
So long as the zombie bodies are eliminated ASAP, there will be minimal exposure to disease. Decay takes a while, and the living human immune system isn't so frail as to be unable to handle some fumes. Decent clothing/safety gear when handling the corpses to the zombie bonfire, maintaining good personal hygiene... common sense, really.
Unless robots are available to do the job.
Originally posted by S_W_LeGenDMays and ifs about uncertain invisible future elements doesn't make for an interesting conversation. Any possible solution can be countered with a "True, but then if this happened..."
Prolonged or repeated exposure to infected individuals (zombies or corpses) may not be healthy too and may create chances for getting infected.Unless robots are available to do the job.
Originally posted by Lord Lucien
Mays and ifs about uncertain invisible future elements doesn't make for an interesting conversation. Any possible solution can be countered with a "True, but then if this happened..."
Contact Diseases are transmitted when an infected person has direct bodily contact with an uninfected person and the microbe is passed from one to the other. Contact diseases can also be spread by indirect contact with an infected person’s environment or personal items. The presence of wound drainage or other discharges from the body suggest an increased potential for risk of transmission and environmental contamination.
Read more here: http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/infectious-disease/epi/airborne/index.shtml
The (TWD) virus 'apparently' spread not just through zombie bites but through other means too. If we are considering this kind of virus then their is possibility that prolonged exposure or contact with infected (zombies or corpses) may also have played a role in spreading of the infection among the survivors. But of-course, their is no concrete explanation yet. We are dealing with possibilities here.