Carry the Two
Tara Kerin on The Last of Us
Aug 8, 2023
Tara Kerin, a project scientist at UCLA specializing in epidemiology, dives into the science behind The Last of Us. She discusses the plausibility of a fungal apocalypse and how R0, a key statistic in disease spread, plays a vital role in both real-world pandemics like COVID-19 and fictional narratives. With humor, Tara breaks down complex epidemiological concepts and explores the intersection of math, science, and storytelling in media. Her insights reveal how entertainment can educate the public on health issues.
18:25
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Quick takeaways
- The Last of Us utilizes the concept of R-naught to illustrate the infinite spread potential of fictional infections, prompting discussion on real epidemiological principles.
- Mathematical models and accurate testing in epidemiology are crucial for public health responses, as highlighted by the show's depiction of disease detection challenges.
Deep dives
Understanding R-naught and Disease Spread
R-naught, or R0, is a critical concept in epidemiology that measures the potential spread of infectious diseases. For example, measles has an extremely high R0 of 18, meaning an infected person can transmit the virus to 18 others, illustrating the importance of vaccination in controlling outbreaks. The factors that impact R0 include the duration of contagiousness, the mode of transmission, and contact rates among the population. In the context of The Last of Us, the show's fictional cordyceps infection is hypothesized to have an effectively infinite R0 due to the continual contagiousness of the infected characters.
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