The Walking Dead, anyone? 

From the virological perspective, the Walking Dead virus is a dead-end life form. Why? Because if it succeeds totally, it will have exhausted its food source irretrievably. The disappearance of humanity is therefore also the disappearance of the Walking Dead virus. For argument's sake, of course, one could imagine that it would mutate and prey on non-humans. But then, if it goes on to wipe out all the other life forms, it will self-destruct all the same -- unless it is capable of invading aliens in outer space, which is quite a stretch, to say the least.

Epidemiologists estimate that we may see, on average, three pandemics in a century. Human beings have been living with pandemics known and unknown since time immemorial. If history is any guide, no virus will likely end civilization going forward. Yes, I sound optimistic and I am optimistic. Let pessimists prove me wrong.

Author: Lingyang Jiang