History Main / PatientZero

* Although he was [[https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2016-10/uoc-nr102416.php eventually exonerated]] as being the true Patient Zero, [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaetan_Dugas Gaetan Dugas]] was widely reported as being Patient 0 of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, at least in the western world, especially after the book ''And The Band Played On'' was published and placed a large amount of blame on him for the virus' spread in North America. He was actually labeled as Patient ''O'', meaning "Out(side)-of-California" which was mistaken for a number due to a typographical error. The True Patient Zero, whose identity remains unknown (and will likely remain so) originated from Africa, where a mutation of a Simian Immunodeficiency Virus (SIV) from the White-collared monkey jumped the species barrier either when someone ate meat from an infected monkey or (more likely) when blood from an infected monkey found its way into a cut on a human (most likely while hunting or butchering a monkey for meat).

* Although he was [[https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2016-10/uoc-nr102416.php eventually exonerated]] as being the true Patient Zero, [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaetan_Dugas Gaetan Dugas]] was widely reported as being Patient 0 of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, at least in the western world, especially after the book ''And The Band Played On'' was published and placed a large amount of blame on him for the virus' spread in North America. He was actually labeled as Patient ''O'', meaning "Out(side)-of-California" which was mistaken for a number due to a typographical error. The True Patient Zero, whose identity remains unknown (and will likely remain so) originated from Africa, where a mutation of a Simian Immunodeficiency Virus (SIV) from the White-collared monkey jumped the species barrier when the monkey's meat was consumed by a human.

[[caption-width-right:350:[-Well, that escalated quickly!-] ]]

* In the film ''Film/{{Zombieland}}'', Patient Zero is said to have been a person who ate a bad hamburger. Mad cow disease then became mad human disease.

* In ''Film/ProWrestlersVsZombies'', killing the two zombies raised by ritual seemingly causes all of the other zombies to vanish.
* The memorable opening scene of ''Film/ResidentEvilAfterlife'' with the J Pop Girl with ThousandYardStare standing in the rain at the Shibuya Scramble Crossing who [[DeadlyLunge suddenly chomps]] on a passing Japanese salaryman, followed by the lights going out across Tokyo and [[SpreadingDisasterMapGraphic then the rest of the world]].

* Typhoid Mary, who caused many outbreaks of [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Typhoid Fever]].

* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'' episode "Cold Warriors", Fry is patient zero of the common cold which had been eradicated for centuries. He carried the virus after been frozen for a thousand years spreading to the Planet Express crew and Manhattan.

* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'' episode "Cold Warriors", Fry is patient zero of the common cold which had been eradicated for centuries having carried the virus after been frozen for a thousand years.

[[folder:Comic books]]

[[folder:Live Action TV]]

[[caption-width-right:330:[-Well, that escalated quickly!-] ]]

* The memorable opening scene of ''Film/ResidentEvilAfterlife'', where the first zombie attack is shown on a rainy night on the Shibuya Scramble Crossing, followed by the lights going out across Tokyo and [[SpreadingDisasterMapGraphic then the rest of the world]]. Retcons in later movies change whether this was indeed the first attack however.

* The memorable opening scene of ''Film/ResidentEvilAfterlife'', where the first zombie attack is shown on a rainy night during the Shibuya Scramble, followed by the lights going out across Tokyo and [[SpreadingDisasterMapGraphic then the rest of the world]]. Retcons in later movies change whether this was indeed the first attack however.

* In the film ''Film/{{Zombieland}}'', Patient Zero is said to have been a person who [[spoiler:ate a bad hamburger]]

* In ''Series/{{Community}}'''s "[[CommunityS2E06Epidemiology Epidemiology]]", Patient Zero is Pierce, being the first person to eat the tainted "taco meat".

TheVirus has taken over the entire world/country/town. Almost always, there is a patient zero. This is the person that started it all, the very first person to be infected. Perhaps s/he carried the virus for a while without realizing s/he was a ZombieInfectee. Perhaps s/he was the one who created the virus.

* In one ComicBook/JusticeLeague story, a failed assassination attempt on Lex Luthor releases a virus from his lab that causes those with super powers to become very sick and gives super powers to normal people which eventually kill them. The original purpose of the virus was to take super powers away. The Justice League hunts down Patient Zero who has grown into a monster with multiple superpowers, hoping that they can make a cure from them, but this doesn’t work. Instead a cure is made from Superman who had antibodies against the virus because Lex Luthor had previously infected him with it but his immune system had fought it off and he hadn’t spread it to anyone.