Plague Inc. downloads increase following Ebola spread

Plague Inc. is a mobile strategy game that simulates the outbreak of a virus. The game has received a massive 50% boost to its number of downloads on mobile stores as a result of the current worldwide Ebola panic.

Plague Inc. has been available on iTunes and Google Play for a while, but has only recently gotten a 50% boost in downloads following the increase in news coverage of the Ebola virus outbreak.

"This is the first time something in the real world has had an effect on the sales charts, especially since Ebola came over to America," James Vaughan, the game's developer told Polygon. "People are curious about it and want to know more about infectious diseases. Plague Inc. can play a role because it's an intelligent look at how infectious diseases can spread."

The game acts as a simulation of a deadly virus outbreak buy putting you in charge of spreading a virus across the world with the end goal being the elimination of the human race. The game utilises things like travelling, animals, etc.. as pathogens. It also gives you ability to alter the virus's genetic code to counter natural conditions or human research.

You can give the virus any name you want, so other than the light-hearted uses we've all seen online, some could use it to try and simulate how a virus, in this case the Ebola, can spread.

"Plague Inc. has an audience of 35 million people who have downloaded it since the game launched. I want to help in any way I can, whether that is raising funds or raising awareness. I'm currently talking to major charities to see if Plague Inc. can be used as a tool to help in some way," Vaughn added.