Non-gamers are just learning The Last Of Us Cordyceps is real, and they're freaking out

The story of The Last of Us is in equal parts heartbreaking and terrifying. Ever since the first game’s release in 2013, gamers everywhere have been dealing with the horrifying information that the Cordyceps fungus, AKA the thing infecting everyone in the games, actually exists, and is just as disturbing in reality as it is in fiction.

For those who just joined the fanbase thanks to the TV series though, this is new information, so you can imagine just how well that's going down. Following the release of The Last of Us’ first episode, which opened with an incredibly unnerving warning from a scientist about how unequipped the world would be to take on such an outbreak, Twitter users have been reacting to the reality of the situation.

Take a look at what’s coming up next on The Last of Us below.

“No but can we talk about the fact that the Cordyceps virus in this world is a REAL life virus,” @bethsduttons tweeted. “The fact that Cordyceps is REAL makes The Last of Us HBO even more terrifying… very plausible,” wrote @nothingbutabz. “Just found out that Cordyceps fungus is a real thing,” @lanny_n_ said, along with a very appropriate GIF reaction.

Now, the good news is that Cordyceps doesn’t affect humans in real life, in fact, it’s believed that consuming it medicinally could actually have health benefits as it apparently has anti-aging properties, amongst other things (thanks, Healthline). Personally, I will not be putting that to the test.

It’s a very different story for insects - like the scientist explained at the beginning of The Last of Us premiere, the fungus essentially takes over the body of its host before eventually killing them (not before the fungus begins to sprout out of their body, though). So, while the Joels and Ellies of the ant world are in actual, real danger, us humans shouldn’t be. For now.