What if you were a zombie, but it wasn't actually so bad?

The infection, named “influenza feralis” is a hyper-mutated strand of the rabies virus. Well, at least that's what the general belief was. In reality, no-one knew what it actually was. but that didn't matter. What did? Not being mauled alive.

And for the infected themselves? They were pretty nice actually- If you were also infected. Like a large, close-knit family.

Unknown medical document documenting research on the influenza feralis virus.

It should be made clear that the infected are not dead. They are not zombies. and thus, a cure can be made.

Any individual infected with the influenza feralis would show signs of immediate aggression towards uninfected individuals. But studies have shown that the infected only want to infect. If damage to the target can be avoided, the infected will only bite once, since that is all that's necessary to contaminate. It also seems the infected are intelligent enough to eat, drink, and even socialise with other infected.

The virus is highly contagious, with even the slightest touch of any infected material resulting in the individual being contaminated. Infection is spread though:

Saliva

Blood

Skin contact (open wounds)

Consuming infected flesh

Transfer of intimate fluids (why would you try this)

Urine

Lucky enough, direct, base skin contact doesn't seem to contaminate.

Upon being contaminated, the targeted individual will start displaying signs of the influenza feralis over a ten minute time span until fully infected. the Symptoms of infection involve:

Headache/sore throat

Brighter veins

Increased saliva production

Increased aggression towards others

Water phobia

Infected individuals display various different traits. Such as losing the ability of base speech in turn for only groaning, growling, and screaming. Muscle control and limb coordination seems to remain unaffected, but with occasional twitching and the infected seem to display great remembrance of past memories and experiences.

For reasons yet to be known, the virus seems to only be able to survive in Japan's climate. This is yet to be figured out, but we are making progress.

We have reminded our agents out on the field to not kill any infected, but to contain them.

Please bear with us, Mrs [redacted]. but your plan is being executed flawlessly like always.

End of document.

Lil tidbit: a thought crossed my mind, and It was basically this. What if being a zombie was actually pretty chill? Also, the intro is like that one seen from highschool of the dead. (I don't watch it.)

This is also supposed to be more light-hearted and unserious.

(The absolutely amazing image was made by me. The infected aren't actually zombies aswell.)