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The Human Reanimation Virus (HRV) aka The Death, Lazarus virus is a fictional pathogen in the books Zombie Apocalypse, Zombie Apocalypse: Fight Back and Zombie Apocalypse: Endgame by author Stephen Jones.

Origin[]

This fictional disease originated in England and patient zero is antagonist Thomas Moreby. This virus is the cause of a zombie apocalypse which started in England. The infection was released when the "New Festival of Britain" was being made at "All Hallows Church" and this is spread by infected fleas. However in the third and final book End Game the disease was revealed to be engineered by New World Pharmaceuticals due to Thomas Moreby using a time machine so he could create the disease.

Symptoms[]

  • Fever
  • Necrosis
  • Delirium
  • Death
  • Reanimation

Before death and reanimation takes place the victim experiences auditory hallucinations in which Thomas Moreby is welcoming them to his congregation. Sometimes visual and tactile hallucinations take place.

Science of the virus[]

Infection

There are a few ways to get infected. There is being bitten by an infected person, being bitten by infected fleas and some evidence suggest infection by animals. The virus seems to be 100% infectious and is very contagious, however in Washington Deceased and End Game it is revealed that there are some people immune to the infection. Any fluids carried by the zombies are infectious. The virus can lay dormant in fleas for many years and can last a long time outside a host. It is also transmitted through sexual contact if a person is infected but has not turned.

Microbiology of infection

Once the virus infects cells the cells in the bloodstream join in rose-like patterns called Tremlet Cells which is more or less "zombie cells". This happens in the entire body and the end result is becoming a zombie. The virus is hidden in bacteria which are hidden in the fleas. The virus lay dormant for years and remains infectious. Later is was revealed the fleas carrying the virus were biologically engineered. In Washington Deceased the company New World Pharmaceuticals determined that while HRv is a virus, it behaves much like snake venom.

Psychology of the Zombies

It should be noted that the zombies are not the same person as the host. This is confirmed by Thomas Moreby that he is not the same person as the original host but a new personality created by the network of virus and bacteria.

Treatments

There is NO treatment for infection. Once infected you will become one of them. However there were attempts to create a cure and or vaccine but those ended up failing. In the book Zombie Apocalypse:Washington Deceased an antiserum was created to combat the infection and it did work; however due to the events of End Game the human victory against the zombies was nullified.

Vectors

Fleas are the main vector. As are humans and rats. In Fight Back it is heavily implied that the virus jumped to dogs.

Outbreaks[]

There have been a few cases of people gone missing. These people were killed by zombies near All Hallows Church and during the events of Zombie Apocalypse the virus is released by diggers. Due to the British Media Corporation downplaying the seriousness of the disease (Much like the real world COVID-19 pandemic), ineffective response and crooked government officials the initial HRv outbreak in the United Kingdom ended up spreading to mainland Europe and eventually the rest of the world. The HRv pandemic ends up destroying most of the human race.

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