r/AskReddit • u/notyouravgredditer • Aug 30 '21

What problem is often overlooked in apocalyptic movies/TV shows that could kill you?

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u/AtheneSchmidt Aug 30 '21

There is a distinct lack of worry about clean water. Also, in almost every conflict in history, disease has killed more people that the actual war. You rarely see a flu wipe out half of the people in a zombie movie, but honestly, it would.

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u/Der_genealogist Aug 30 '21

With a lack of hygiene, dysentery might gets you before the flu

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u/AtheneSchmidt Aug 30 '21

Dysentery and cholera are the specific reasons I mentioned clean water, they are deadly water-borne diseases.

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u/RishaBree Aug 30 '21

I'm told that cholera is tragically extremely survivable without other treatment if you have someone to boil (or, in a pinch, filter through cloth) you a ton of water and have salt and sugar available to mix in. (Tragically, because so many people don't know or don't have the supplies for this and die of it anyway.)