In The Last of Us, we're not really talking about zombies, but rather about the infected. While the appearance and behavior of the antagonists can be misleading, they are indeed not undead. Those affected are actually very much alive, since the fungus known as Cordyceps can only exist in this form through a living host.
However, there are several stages of development of Cordyceps that affect the human body differently. When a person is infected by a bite, they go through several stages of transformation, each giving rise to different physical abilities. There are runners, prowlers (introduced in this season 2), clickers, and colossi. But the bite isn't the only way to be infected by the fungus. The spores are also formidable. Where do they come from and how does their infection manifest?
What happens to the WLF members in episode 5?
It is important to know that spores are the final stage of mutation of Cordyceps. They appear at the end of the infected's life, when their body decomposes. This is the final way for the fungus to spread and infect more hosts. Spores are only dangerous in closed spaces with little or no air circulation. It is therefore unlikely that a person can be infected by spores on the surface or in the open air. As seen in the games, but also in the series, spores are highly concentrated in underground passages, bunkers, and other basements.
In this week's episode, The Last of Us took us to the lower floors of the Seattle hospital. After some WLF members disappeared, we find them in the basement, half-mutated, but not fully transformed. We learn that, during a reconnaissance mission, the soldiers came across an astronomical quantity of spores and that it was already too late for them.
The strongest probability is that the Cordyceps infiltrated their bodies through their breath, as it does for Nora later in the episode, and that the fungus grew until it dispossessed them of their faculties. However, Cordyceps needs a living body to grow, which is why it spread without killing its hosts. Instead, the culture took over and invaded the entire environment.
Just like with the bite, there is no way to escape once the host is infected. Inhaling the spores can also cause respiratory and lung problems within the first few seconds. Ellie may be prone to these issues, although she will never be affected by the infectious part.
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