The cause of the zombie outbreak in The Walking Dead has been a topic of much speculation and debate among fans. While the original comic and TV series have provided some clues, the exact cause remains a mystery. Here are some of the theories and explanations that have been suggested:
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Wildfire Virus: According to the Walking Dead Wiki, the virus that causes zombies in the TV universe is called the Wildfire Virus. It is a contagious disease that originated in France and spread globally, causing people to turn into zombies.
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Space Spore: In a tweet, The Walking Dead creator Robert Kirkman suggested that the zombie outbreak was caused by a "space spore". This is likely a nod to George A. Romeros Night of the Living Dead, in which scientists speculate that zombies could have been caused by a space probe returning to Earth with radiation.
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Virus that infects the brain: In the TV series, CDC researcher Dr. Edwin Jenner compares the zombie virus to meningitis and explains that it only infects the brain stem, which is why a dead person's personality and memories aren't restored, nor can a zombie form new ones.
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French Laboratory: In a recent episode of The Walking Dead: World Beyond, a character mentions a French laboratory that worked on a project that ultimately became the zombie origins. This suggests that the virus was created in a lab and accidentally released.
It's worth noting that Kirkman has said that he deliberately chose not to reveal the zombie virus origin in the comics because he felt it would make the story less interesting. Ultimately, the cause of the zombie outbreak may not matter as much as the characters' struggle to survive in a post-apocalyptic world.
