An epidemiologist explains how science fiction has taught us—and misled us—about pandemics

If you asked a random scientist a question about zombies, they're likely to brush the undead monsters off as pure fantasy. Epidemiologist Tara Smith, however, will take your question seriously—and proceed to thoughtfully explain what the undead can teach us about infectious disease outbreaks and preparing for disasters. In fact, Smith recently taught an entire course on the subject at Kent State University, where she studies emerging infectious diseases.

When an editor at National Geographic asked me to write an article on the science behind popular science fiction films, Smith was on my shortlist of experts to talk to. Before our interview, I asked her to pick a movie or TV show depicting public health that's made a lasting impression on the public. Smith picked three: Outbreak, a 1995 Ebola-inspired action film, Contagion, a 2011 pandemic thriller, and The Last of Us, a post-apocalyptic drama whose first season aired on HBO in 2023. This resulted in a wide-ranging discussion on Hollywood tropes and misconceptions about public health, as well as what the movies sometimes get right. We also discussed what zombies can teach us about disasters, and how pop culture may have primed us to become obsessed with the covid lab leak theory.

With covid-19 once again surging alongside other respiratory viruses, it felt like a good time to remind everyone that our perception of public health doesn't emerge in a vacuum: Pop culture plays a big role in shaping it. My full conversation with Smith can be found below, lightly edited and condensed for clarity.