Stock image.
Camera IconStock image. Credit: Supplied/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Perth could be fastest to succumb to a zombie attack: researchers

Headshot of David Johns
David JohnsMidland Kalamunda Reporter

PERTH would be the first city to fall in the event of a zombie apocalypse, according to research from the University of Melbourne that is actually more serious than you think.

A simulation by the university’s Centre for Disease Management and Public Safety (CDMPS) has thrown up some frightening figures – with Perth the fastest to succumb in the event of an outbreak.

While those of us used to a freeway commute may argue that Perth is already full of zombies, the modelling shows as many as 100,000 people could be infected in the first four days.

PerthNow Digital Edition.
Your local paper, whenever you want it.

Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE

Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.

READ NOW

The good news is that CDMPS deputy director Professor Greg Folientehas some sound advice for those who want to survive the apocalypse.

How Australian and New Zealand cities would rank in a zombie apocalypse, according to the University of Melbourne.
Camera IconHow Australian and New Zealand cities would rank in a zombie apocalypse, according to the University of Melbourne. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

“You need to build a defensive ring around the source of any attack to overpower the zombies with numbers, because if you miss that chance they will just overpower everyone as long as they have contact with a population,” he said.

“Alternatively, if you have enough warning, disperse as fast as you can.”

The centre drew a number of conclusions when it came to survival factors, saying those who grouped together were more likely to survive.

The study was commissioned by XBox to coincide with the release of its new video game State of Decay 2, but according to a Pursuit article by Andrew Trounson, the modelling was in fact quite serious.

Prof Foliente and his CDMPS colleagues use similar modelling to map the impact of natural disasters like fire and flood across the country.

“At first, I thought it was a crazy idea, but I’ve always been interested in epidemiology and applying our spatial modelling if there is an infectious disease outbreak, so I thought about it and we gave it a go,” he said.

“With this exercise we can learn the nature of propagation of an outbreak based on current knowledge and assumptions, and by doing that we can learn the best defence by simulating different scenarios.”

One thing is for sure – with Perth being the most isolated city in the world, there’s little hope we can rely on Rick Grimes to save the day.