The HBO series 'The Last of Us,' renewed for a third season, depicts a zombie apocalypse caused by a mutated cordyceps fungus. In reality, cordyceps is a genus of parasitic fungi that infects insects, not humans. According to experts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and mycologists, the fungus cannot survive at human body temperature (around 37°C) and is blocked by the human immune system.
While climate change could theoretically alter fungal adaptations, no evidence suggests cordyceps could evolve to infect humans. A 2023 study in the journal 'Science' noted that fungal infections in mammals are rare due to temperature restrictions. The fictional mutation in the show remains purely speculative.
Real cordyceps species are used in traditional medicine, particularly in Asia, for energy and immune support, but their efficacy is not scientifically proven. The fungus does not pose a public health threat.
