Cordyceps, Zombies and Fungal Infections - Doctor Explains the Science Behind "The Last of Us"

Could the fungal infection featured in HBO's "The Last of Us" really happen? Dr. George Thompson, professor of clinical medicine at UC Davis School of Medicine, explains how cordyceps fungus can infect and control insects like ants, the likelihood of a similar infection affecting humans, and how climate change is affecting the way fungal diseases spread. Dr. Thompson specializes in the care of patients with invasive fungal infections and has research interest in fungal diagnostics and host immunogenetics. This video includes an audio description track. To hear the narration of on‑screen text, turn on "English Descriptive" in the player’s settings menu. See the latest news from UC Davis Health: https://health.ucdavis.edu/newsroom 0:00 Could the infection in "The Last of Us" really happen? 0:22 How can cordyceps affect insects? 1:03 Can humans be infected by cordyceps fungus? 1:24 The effects of climate change on fungal disease spread 1:58 The dangers of fungal diseases The information in this video was accurate as of the upload date, 2/16/23. For information purposes only. Consult your local medical authority for advice. #thelastofus #cordyceps #ucdavis