Culture
Sometimes writers and screenwriters are so ingenious about creating viruses, infections and epidemics for their works that you can't help but believe in them and a chill goes down your back.
We have collected for you the most terrifying diseases, viruses and mystical epidemics that can be found in movies today.
10.
Human Cortico-Deficiency Virus
Movie: 28 Days Later (16+) and 28 Weeks Later (18+)
This virus causes severe aggression in the victim only 10-30 seconds after infection.
Where did it come from:
The graphic novel, based on the two films, states that Rage is a hybrid of the Ebola virus, although its symptoms are similar to those of rabies. It was created by scientists in a laboratory where they experimented on animals. Their goal was to isolate specific neurochemicals that cause anger and excessive aggression in humans in order to develop an inhibitor capable of regulating anger control.
How is it distributed:
The disease is easily transmitted through blood or saliva. Because of this high level of contagiousness, as well as due to the short incubation period, a crowd of hundreds of people can become infected from just one person in a few minutes.
Scientists tested the virus on animals, but activists, unaware of it, released one animal into the wild, which led to the spread of the virus and the destruction of almost the entire population Great Britain. There are people who are immune to the virus — they can be infected with it and transmit it, but they do not change themselves and show no symptoms.
What happens to infected people:
Infected organisms die after several months of starvation. Victims of the virus constantly drool because it causes huge amounts of adrenaline to be pumped through the body, giving infected people increased strength and endurance. There is so much adrenaline that infected people can completely ignore the most dangerous injuries. Those infected also have red eyes and bleeding from the eyes, mouth, and nose.
Read also: 10 best apocalypse and post-apocalypse movies you haven't seen
9.
An alien life form that looks like a fungus
Movie: Invasion (12+)
As soon as people come into contact with the “fungus” and enter REM sleep, it begins to control them.
Where did it come from:
After the Patriot space shuttle falls to Earth, an alien life form similar to a fungus enters the planet with it.
What happens to infected people:
People become detached and don't show any emotions. They look like quiet and undisturbed robots. They show neither fear nor anger nor love.
How is it distributed:
It is transmitted through blood. All infected people are trying to attract others to them in order to “build a better world without violence and wars”, but in which there is no place for those who are immune. They could infect any drinking liquid and give it to humans.
People suffering from Acute Multiple Encephalomyelitis are immune and cannot be infected by an alien “fungus”.
There is a vaccine that can cure all infected people.
Also read: The 10 scariest horror movies of the 21st century you haven't heard of
8.
Simian flu (ALZ-112, ALZ-113)
Movie: Planet of the Apes: Revolution (16+)
The virus significantly increases the intelligence of monkeys, but is fatal to any person.
Where did it come from:
A genetically modified retrovirus was created by scientists at Gen-sys Laboratories in San Francisco. It was originally developed to treat Alzheimer's disease. ALZ-112 improves intelligence in monkeys and helps heal humans, but only temporarily, as the immune system creates antibodies to fight the virus.
ALZ-113 is a stronger version of the drug. During the test, this powerful virus accidentally hit one of the scientists, and over time, it developed and destroyed most of the human race, and only 1 in 500 people was immune to the virus.
How is it distributed:
The infected scientist accidentally sneezed in front of the plane pilot. Thus, a wave of infection began, which became a global pandemic.
What happens to infected people:
People develop symptoms such as sneezing, headache, sore throat, fever, vomiting, red eyes, coughing, and finally death. The virus later mutates and causes temporary bleeding from the nose and mouth and turns most victims into cavemen who are unable to speak.
Monkeys, on the other hand, are becoming more human, starting not only to move, but also to think like intelligent people. Moreover, they are starting to communicate like humans, as the virus changes their vocal cords.
7.
T-Virus (Virus Tyrant (eng. Tyrant virus)
Movie: Resident Evil (18+)
Where did it come from:
It was created by a scientist to treat his daughter from progeria, which causes premature aging in humans. The virus cured her daughter, but later it turned out to be very dangerous. Another Umbrella scientist who wants to create live bioorganic weapons decided to take advantage of this.
What happens to infected people:
The virus destroys all the infected person's cells, killing him. Within 2-4 hours, all cells recover, but the virus activates only one brain function: the hypothalamus. The virus has mutagenic properties, due to which any living creature changes rapidly and acquires incredible abilities that are not foreseen by normal evolution.
How is it distributed:
The infected person becomes a violent cannibal and begins to hunt all living things, infecting them through blood or saliva. Because of this effect, the virus is called “cannibal disease”. As a result, the virus destroyed almost the entire population of the Earth. Umbrella's lab has an antivirus that can kill all infected people, but it will take several years to distribute it.
6.
A mysterious epidemic that deprives a person of feelings
Movie: Last Love on Earth (16+)
Where did it come from:
It's not known.
How is it distributed:
It's not known.
What happens to infected people:
People lose their feelings very quickly. First, the sense of smell disappears, then the taste. However, before losing them, a person experiences a powerful emotional upsurge and a strong exacerbation of feelings that will soon disappear, and after their loss, depression begins.
Hearing is lost a little later, which means that vision loss is on the way. Hearing loss is accompanied by anger.
People are trying to adapt to new conditions using their remaining senses. Eventually, a person feels euphoric and becomes blind.
5.
MEV-1 paramyxovirus
Movie: Contagion (12+)
Where did it come from:
Presumably from bats, it also contains pig DNA.
A fact of life:
The MEV-1 virus is based on a real pathogen called the Nipah virus, which causes respiratory diseases, encephalitis, seizures and kills 45 to 90 percent of those infected. Its natural carriers are frugivorous winged animals (some representatives are called flying foxes and flying dogs). The Nipa virus has infected hundreds of people in Malaysia and Bangladesh. According to virologists, it is not so actively transmitted between people.
How is it distributed:
It all started with a bulldozer that hit a palm tree, thus arousing some bats nearby. When one of them flies past a banana fruit and then over a pig farm, she drops a piece of fruit that is mixed with pig food.
Later, chefs from Hong Kong cooked pork for restaurant diners, while the chef who cooked the meat casually wiped his hands on the soiled robe and shook hands with the woman. This was the beginning of the global pandemic.
A vaccine has been created.
What happens to infected people:
The virus affects the lungs and brain, causing coughing and fever, a severe headache accompanied by a seizure, a brain hemorrhage, and eventually death. MEV-1 kills an infected person about four days after infection and within hours of onset of symptoms. The virus is transmitted primarily through touch.
4.
Motaba virus
Movie: The Epidemic (16+)
The Motaba virus is a hemorrhagic virus.
It was so dangerous that the military used a fuel bomb and burned down an entire military camp. The virus reappeared in a rural village and killed the entire population in a few days.
Where did it come from:
The virus is carried by a capuchin from the African jungle.
How is it distributed:
It is transmitted by airborne droplets. The virus can also mutate in water, blood, and even air.
What happens to infected people:
The virus causes hemorrhagic fever, which is accompanied by heavy bleeding inside and outside. A fever occurs 4 hours after infection, and 24 hours later, the infected person dies. The mortality rate among infected people is 100%.
There is a serum that can cure the original strain.
3.
Nerve Attenuation Syndrome (NAS)
Movie: Johnny Mnemonic (16+)
This syndrome is a progressive seizure disorder that is common in society due to an overabundance of technology and the use of cybernetics. It occurs sporadically, but over time it becomes more frequent.
Where did it come from:
The syndrome has appeared as a result of excessive exposure to electromagnetic radiation from ubiquitous technological devices. Half of the world's people have been victims of it.
The implication is that one pharmaceutical corporation has a drug but does not want to issue it for its own benefit. The corporation sells expensive drugs for the disease, which in reality do not help in any way.
What happens to infected people:
A man is shaking. All infected people die.
2.
Inferno virus
Movie: Inferno (16+)
Where did it come from:
Created in a laboratory to kill billions of people to save the planet from overpopulation. The virus is not treatable, and even if technologies are available in the future that can help in any way, changing the human genome would still be too dangerous.
How is it distributed:
It is transmitted by airborne droplets.
What happens to infected people:
Almost all infected people die, and 2/3 of those who are immune become infertile due to changes in their DNA structure.
1.
Modified measles virus (KV – Krippin Virus)
Movie: I'm a Legend (16+)
Where did it come from:
In 2009, the genetically modified measles virus, originally developed to treat cancer, became fatal. The virus kills 90% of the world's population, and 9% of them become mutant cannibals who are extremely sensitive to sunlight. They're killing anyone who's immune to the virus.
Fewer than 1% of people on Earth are immune to the virus.
How is it distributed:
It is transmitted by airborne droplets and through contaminated blood.
What happens to infected people:
Most infected people die. Those who remain alive show symptoms of rabies. The adrenal glands are “constantly open”, which gives victims increased strength, speed and agility, and speeds up metabolism. The body temperature is elevated, the heart rate is high and breathing is fast.
The pupils are constantly dilated, and the skin is hypersensitive to ultraviolet radiation, causing infected creatures to become nocturnal. Body hair loss is another symptom. In addition to humans, some animals, including rats and dogs, are also susceptible to infection.