Warning! This article contains spoilers for The Last of Us episode 1.The catalyst for the events of The Last of Us is the Cordyceps brain infection that creates the infected seen within the show, leading many to wonder if the fungi are real or not. The Last of Us episode 1 begins with two scientists deliberating over the biggest threat to mankind in the 1960s, with one stating that fungi are bigger threats to humanity than bacteria or viruses. The series then jumps forward to 2003, following the lives of Joel, Tommy, and Sarah Miller in Texas.
This section of The Last of Us episode 1 foreshadows the infection that is about to plague humanity and ends with the outbreak of the illness, as seen through the eyes of Joel, Tommy, and Sarah. The 2023 timeline of The Last of Us picks up with Joel and Tess living in the Boston quarantine zone after the Cordyceps outbreak has decimated humanity across the globe. Due to the intense realism of both The Last of Us game and HBO's show, the question of whether the fungi that caused the infection is real is certainly valid.
Are Fungi Cordyceps Real?
In fact, the Cordyceps fungi are real. The Cordyceps fungi contain over 600 different species and hold the same parasitic nature as the Cordyceps showcased in The Last of Us. However, in reality, Cordyceps fungi are mostly known to infect insects and other arthropods, which can seriously harm and even kill their hosts. The majority of Cordyceps strains in the real world are found in Asia and thrive in jungle environments and hot climates.
How The Last Of Us' Virus Infects Humans
With real Cordyceps known to majoritively infect insects in the real world, the question remains of how HBO's The Last of Us writes it so that the fungi can infect humans. This is explained in the opening scene, with the two scientists tying The Last of Us' central infection to another real-world aspect: global warming. It is explained by the scientists that most fungal infections that affect insects cannot survive in the warm temperatures of the human body.
The main scientist speaking on fungal infections is then questioned on why he views them as humanity's greatest threat. The man then says that if the Earth as a whole heats up, fungi could evolve to survive higher temperatures. Fungi could then withstand the temperatures of the human body. This is a new addition to HBO's The Last of Us show and explains why the Cordyceps brain infection began. In the decades between the scientist explaining his fears and 2003 when Joel and Sarah witnessed the outbreak, the Cordyceps fungi mutated to infect humans, thus setting into motion the events of The Last of Us.
New episodes of The Last of Us release every Sunday on HBO.