Did the world end in The Last of Us?
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The world as we know it came to an end in The Last of Us, due to the Cordyceps Brain Infection (CBI), a parasitic fungal infection that devastated mankind, resulting in a post-apocalyptic state. This global pandemic caused widespread destruction, decimating the general population, and bringing human civilization to the brink of extinction, with the infection likely starting through contaminated food products such as flour or sugar.
Understanding the World of The Last of Us
The Cordyceps brain infection is a fictional representation of a real-life fungus, but its impact on humanity in The Last of Us is a dire reminder of the potential dangers of pandemics and the importance of public health measures.
The Cause of the Infection
The infection is caused by the Cordyceps fungus, which infects humans through spores that are ingested or inhaled, leading to a gradual takeover of the host’s body and eventually turning them into Infected.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What caused the end of the world in The Last of Us?: The Cordyceps Brain Infection (CBI), a parasitic fungal infection, was responsible for wiping out half of society, resulting in a post-apocalyptic state.
- What happened to the Earth in The Last of Us?: The Cordyceps brain infection devastated mankind, causing widespread destruction and bringing human civilization to the brink of extinction.
- Do they ever find a cure in The Last of Us?: There is no cure found in The Last of Us, as Joel kills the doctors before they can synthesize a cure from Ellie’s blood, and her immunity is never used to make a cure in the games or show.
- What was the ending of The Last of Us?: The Last of Us ends with Joel going on a violent rampage to prevent Ellie’s death, killing everyone in his path and stopping the potential cure.
- What happened to the rest of the world in The Last of Us?: The Cordyceps fungus quickly became a worldwide pandemic, decimating the general population and causing the total breakdown and destruction of society.
- Why is Ellie immune?: Ellie is immune because her mother, Anna, was bitten during childbirth, and the Cordyceps present in Anna’s system was transferred to Ellie through the umbilical cord.
- Was Joel killed in The Last of Us?: Joel is killed in the sequel, The Last of Us Part II, by Abby, the daughter of the Firefly surgeon Joel killed in the first game.
- Is Ellie the only immune person?: Ellie is seemingly the only person immune to Cordyceps in the game and show, but it is not explicitly stated that she is the only one.
- Can Ellie infect others?: It is unclear if Ellie can infect others, but it is hinted in The Last of Us Part II that her immunity works in a way that prevents her from spreading the infection.
- Why did Joel prevent the cure?: Joel prevented the cure because the surgery to extract the cure from Ellie would have killed her, and he was unwilling to sacrifice her life.
- Could Ellie be the cure?: Ellie’s immunity is never used to make a cure in the games or show, and it is left ambiguous whether a cure is possible using her blood.
- Does the whole world get infected in The Last of Us?: The Cordyceps fungus spreads rapidly and infects a large portion of the population, but it is not clear if the entire world is infected.
- Was what Joel did right?: Joel’s actions are morally complex, but he was right to save Ellie’s life, as she deserved the chance to make her own decisions.
- Would The Last of Us be possible?: While a Cordyceps pandemic is unlikely, anti-fungal drug resistance is a real concern, and experts say that a pandemic caused by a fungus is not impossible.
- Could the events of The Last of Us happen?: The events of The Last of Us are fictional, but they are based on real-world science, and experts say that while a Cordyceps apocalypse is extremely unlikely, it is not impossible.