It'd be hilarious if there was actually a company/corporation working on some dangerous virus, and because of all this attention they end up being caught. They'd go "HOW DID KISHIN KNOW!?"
Does Romero exist in this universe?
I think a zombie outbreak wouldn't spread so fast in the north America since a lot of people owns a gun.
Also the military exist; the chances of it spreading unintentionally to the populace or breaking out of containment is close to nil under proper protocols.