The Buzz: Zombie Epidemiology

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In the event of a zombie epidemic, scientists have settled on an unambiguous plan for survival: be aggressive. Mathematicians from the University of Ottawa and Carleton University modelled the outcome of responses to zombie infection including quarantine, development of a cure, and "regular, impulsive" slaying of undead to reduce their numbers. The results of their analysis are summarized in a paper published in Infectious Disease Modelling Research Progress, and reveal that only a swift and forceful attempt at eradication offers any hope to human civilization. We wonder if ScienceBlogs' resident zombie expert Frank Swain--aka SciencePunk--would concur; he is currently at work on his book Zombology: the new science of zombies, reanimation and mind control.

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