No Evidence Zombie Apocalypse Will Happen in 2021
The Claim
Experts warn of a possible zombie outbreak.
News posted on
Emerging story
Image and videos are circulating online, warning people of the possibility of a zombie outbreak. Users claimed the Daily Express reported that a disease experimented on humans turns them into zombies.
Misbar’s Analysis
The Misbar investigation found this claim to be misleading. A reverse image search showed 32 results. The circulating image was first found online in 2016. Further research found that the photo is taken from a video shot by Micheal Boardman.
The original video on Youtube is from Universal Studios' new Walking Dead attraction from 2016. In which attendees walk through and experience a post-apocalyptic world, where they must fight for survival and fend off an onslaught of walkers. The Misbar investigation also found that the claim began with an article from the tabloid news publisher Express titled “Revealed: Zombie outbreak IS possible - and only needs evolution of ONE parasite to happen.” The article mainly discusses how viruses and parasites can manipulate behavior, giving examples of occurrences in animals such as rodents. While it is true that in some instances, viruses or fungi can control the body of an animal such as zombie ant fungus or manipulate behavior such as rabies, there is no outbreak of it in humans.
In a blog post in 2011, the CDC had explained what to do in the event of a zombie attack. However, there is no direct correlation between the CDC site and recent warnings of a 2021 "zombie outbreak."
Given the claim's context, the Misbar team confirms it as highly misleading. There is no zombie outbreak, and the circulating images and video are from a TV show set in Universal Studios in Hollywood, California.
