Nature's Puppeteers: 10 Parasites That Hijack the Brain

The sources detail the history and biology of smallpox, an ancient virus known as "Sopona" that claimed over 350 million lives by evading the body’s immune system until it was eradicated globally through the evolution of vaccination techniques. Beyond viruses, nature is home to various "zombie parasites"—such as hairworms, specialized wasps, and fungi—that manipulate the brains and bodies of their hosts to ensure their own survival and reproduction. Although wild smallpox no longer exists, dormant samples in laboratories and pathogens like rabies or Toxoplasma gondii continue to pose risks to human health and behavior.