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The claim: Nostradamus predicted that there would be a zombie apocalypse in 2021 and the CDC gives advice on how to prepare for it
The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention has provided health and safety guidelines for pandemics, and according to social media users, it now offers advice on how to survive a zombie apocalypse.
A viral Instagram post from March 4 on the UberFacts page correlates the CDC’s zombie leadership with Nostradamus’ alleged prediction of a zombie apocalypse taking place in 2021.
“In the 16th century, the French astrologer Nostradamus predicted that there would be a zombie apocalypse in 2021,” reads a screenshot of a tweet from UberFacts. “The CDC gives advice on how to prepare, just in case.”
Attached to the tweet is an image of zombies walking in a forest and the caption of the message links to a “Zombie Preparedness” page on the CDC’s website. The report has more than 73,000 preferences. USA TODAY reached the page for comments.
In 2014, BuzzFeed News reported that a survey of the UberFacts Twitter account found numerous examples of ‘facts’ that were false.
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The alleged Nostradamus corridor is no evidence of the prediction of zombie apocalypse
The allegation that Nostradamus predicted that a zombie apocalypse would take place comes from a report on the website YearlyHoroscope.org. The site contains a number of alleged “Nostradamus 2021 predictions” such as bitcoin, solar storms and a comet hitting the earth.
The article claims that Nostradamus, also known as Michel de Nostradame, predicted that a Russian scientist would create a biological weapon and produce a virus that would turn people into zombies, according to one of his prophecies from a book in the National Library in Rome was discovered. ‘which apparently belongs to him. ‘
The alleged quote reads: “Few young people: half-dead to give a start. Death by spite, he will make the other shine, and in a sublime place great evils will take place: sad concepts will harm everyone Temporarily worthy, the “Failing to succeed, fathers and mothers who have died of endless sorrow, women in mourning, the pestilent monster: the great to be no more, the whole world must end.”
Some believe the text is evidence of a zombie apocalypse prediction due to words like ‘half-dead’ and ‘great evils’, but there is no evidence that he referred to zombies.
Several historians and scholars also note that Nostradamus’ predictions are often vague, leaving much room for different interpretations.
His popularity seems to be due in part to the fact that the vagueness of his writings and the lack of specific dates make it easy to selectively quote it after any major dramatic event and make it retroactive as true, “History.com reports.
Some scholars believe that Nostradamus did not write as a prophet, but rather wrote to comment on events and people of his time, according to History.com.
The claim that Nostradamus predicted the coronavirus pandemic was previously dismissed by Reuters. A YouTube user also falsely claimed that Nostradamus predicted that a 9.8 magnitude earthquake would hit California on May 28, 2015.
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CDC’s Zombie Preparedness Guide contains a variety of natural disasters
While it is true that the CDC’s website has a “Zombie preparedness” page, the tips serve as a practical guideline for real emergencies such as hurricanes, earthquakes or floods, USA TODAY reports.
“It turns out that the first time a tongue-in-cheek campaign to engage new audiences with preparedness messages is a very effective platform,” reads the CDC’s website. “We continue to reach out and engage a wide range of audiences on all dangers preparedness via ‘zombie preparedness’.”
A “Zombie Preparedness” blog post, which has been appearing on the CDC’s website since May 2011, states: “you may laugh now, but if that happens, you’ll be glad you read it” and that you can learn how to prepare for a real emergency.
If zombies were to roam the streets, the CDC would investigate and assist states until it could determine how to deal with and stop the outbreak, the website said.
Tips on the page include the collection of supplies such as a liter of water per day, food, medication, tools, sanitation and hygiene, a first aid kit and important documents.
The CDC also recommends drawing up an emergency plan by identifying possible emergencies in the area. Apart from a zombie apocalypse, it can also include other natural disasters.
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Our rating: Missing context
The claim that Nostradamus predicted a zombie apocalypse in 2021, and that the CDC is advising on how to prepare for it, is rated as a MISSING CONTEXT, as it can be misleading. The CDC does offer tips for preparing zombie apocalypse on its website, but the tips have been created so that people can learn about real emergency preparation in an engaging way. Furthermore, there is no evidence that Nostradamus predicted a zombie apocalypse. Historians and scholars note that his passages are often vague and open to interpretation.
Our sources for fact checking:
- YearlyHoroscope.org, accessed March 8, Nostradamus 2021 Forecasts
- History.com, 14 May 2020 (updated), Nostradamus
- Reuters, 9 April 2020, False claim: Nostradamus predicts outbreak of coronavirus
- USA TODAY, May 29, 2015, Well, the earthquake that Nostradamus predicted did not happen
- USA TODAY March 5 The CDC wants you to prepare for a zombie apocalypse. (Yes, you read that right.)
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, access until March 8, Center for Readiness and Response Zombie Readiness
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, May 16, 2011, Readiness 101: Zombie Apocalypse
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