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Originally Posted by derrell
It might also be helpful at this point to start identifying different levels of zombie outbreaks.
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I couldn't agree more. It's absolutely imperative to understand the scope of the outbreak. Containment is the key when dealing with any infestation, and containment is only possible when the extent of the outbreak is truly known.
The two key factors for determining the scope of any outbreak are time and population. If an incident is detected during the very early stages, the chance of containment remains high. The undead can only move so fast. If they actually take a human down, feeding can keep them occupied for some time. The thought that is takes a while for a human to turn into a Zombie, however, can lead to underestimation of the outbreak. It may take hours or even days for a healthy human to succumb to a superficial bite, but if the wound penetrates a major artery, you could have a new Zombie in mere minutes.
Population density of the outbreak area is also a significant factor. A Zombie loose in a crowded market place is going to create much more of a problem than one meandering about the old abandon amusement park. Even if dealt with quickly, an incident with high population exposure tends to lead to future outbreaks. This is simply due to the fact that not every individual bitten will seek medical attention, especially when they notice other victims handled as the bio hazards they have now become. That is why it remains necessary to monitor activities at hospitals, clinics, and morgues in the surrounding area for at least five days after the last known infected individual is dispatched.
Any incident in an area with low population density which is detected within 12 hours can be handled quickly and quietly by a two man sniper team, a trained disposal unit, and a qualified medical officer skilled in early infection identification. For more populated areas, it's believed that a SWAT team with specific undead elimination training is the best option to handle an outbreak of up to a hundred Zombies. The larger problem in these situations is maintaining media control of the event. Larger outbreaks would require a combination of assets and a strategy based on the region in question.