Cordyceps

Author:

Alvin Kathembe

First published:

Publisher:

Omenana

“‘Cordyceps is a genus of endoparasitoid fungus,’ she said, thinking aloud. ‘It targets insects…anthropods…’ She was talking very quickly now, pacing up and down. ‘Have you heard of Ophiocordyceps unilateralis? It’s a fungus that affects ants; they call it the zombie-ant fungus. This is crazy!’”

Read Cordyceps online

Image: Jose Ramon Pato

References

Lavery, Charne, Laura Pereira, Bwalya Chibwe, Nedine Moonsamy, Chinelo Onwaulu, Naomi Terry. 2022. Facing the Strategic Sublime: Scenario Planning as Gothic Narrative. Vector, 27 September 2022.  https://vector-bsfa.com/2022/09/27/mosquitoes-mushrooms-magic-africanfuturist-sf-for-natures-futures/

Suggested discussion points

  • There is a suggestion that nature has agency in terms of keeping ‘balance’ and various diseases, viral, bacterial or, in this story, fungal, are one of the ways to control population that has exceeded its carrying capacity. Discuss the political implications of such ‘scientific’ narratives, especially in the context of human societies.
  • The story describes the beginning of a global pandemic. The disease is fatal, airborne, and able to infect a large number of people. If there is any chance to stop it from eradicating humans as a species, it is to halt its spread as soon as it jumps a species barrier by tracing and isolating all contacts. Why does the story suggest this might be very difficult?
  • Consider effective ways to deal with such an outbreak as depicted in the story. What are the implications for human rights? Surveillance? Wellbeing? National sovereignty?
  • How can speculative fiction be used in helping governments prepare for future pandemics?

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