Virtual Worlds Forum

Can you model virtual diseases in virtual worlds? In this article, Virtual game is a 'Disease Model' BBC News looks at the study of an outbreak of the corrupted blood disease in World Of Warcraft and what implications this might have for the study of real diseases.

In the game, there was a real diversity of response from the players to the threat of infection, similar to those seen in real life. Some acted selflessly, rushing to the aid of other characters even though that meant they risked infection themselves. Others fled infected cities in an attempt to save themselves. And some who were sick made it their mission to deliberately infect others.