The Last of Us and the Question of a Fungal Pandemic in Real Life

2024/02/23 by Γεώργιος Παππάς, Georgia Vrioni · 1 voice · 1 citation
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Agricultural and Biological Sciences · Medicine · #Plant Pathogens and Fungal Diseases #Mycorrhizal Fungi and Plant Interactions #Antifungal resistance and susceptibility

paper · pdf · doi:10.3201/eid3003.230684

openalex publication_date 2024/02/23 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/06/24

Abstract

The television series The Last of Us imagines a postapocalyptic world ravaged by a fungal pandemic caused by a Cordyceps species. We evaluate whether a fungal pandemic is possible (and reasons behind its current improbability). We further discuss the series’ effect on public perception of fungi, fungal infections, and pandemic response.

Cited by

• Diagnostics for human pathogenic fungal infections: Current status and future prospects

Discussions

• The Last of Us and the Question of a Fungal Pandemic in Real Life doi.org/10.3201/eid3... [bsky, 3 points, 0 comments]

Related

• Fungal infections in humans: the silent crisis
• Fungal diseases as neglected pathogens: A wake-up call to public health officials
• Emerging and reemerging human fungal pathogens that affect people with weakened immune systems: A systematic review
• Racialized Contagion and Defensive Biopolitics in <em>The Last of Us</em>
• The Spectrum of Fungi That Infects Humans