Unbelievable TV Maladies: 15 Outlandish Fictional Diseases that Will Leave You Astounded

TV shows have explored a wide range of fictional diseases and illnesses that have devastating effects. Since the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, people have developed a keen interest in the transmission of viruses and illnesses. However, when TV shows incorporate real health issues, there is a need to portray them in a somewhat realistic manner. This can sometimes hinder the character development and overall storyline when one or more characters become ill.

Unlike real illnesses, fictional diseases often defy the principles of microbiology and exhibit peculiar symptoms. Additionally, they may specifically target certain groups instead of affecting the entire population. Furthermore, these genres have shown a growing fascination with the concept of biological warfare, using microorganisms to cause harm and death. These factors contribute to their allure in sci-fi, fantasy, and thriller narratives.

15 The Bliss Virus (Doctor Who)

14 The Jonas Virus (All of Us Are Dead)

: In the third episode of the third season of Doctor Who titled "Gridlock," the Doctor pays a visit to New Earth, which is set five billion years ahead in the future. The inhabitants of this planet have developed an addiction to a mind-altering substance called "Bliss," leading to their vulnerability when a virus undergoes a mutation within their society. As a result, this virus rapidly becomes airborne and spreads rapidly from one person to another. Shockingly, within a mere duration of seven minutes, the entire population of New Earth succumbs to this devastating virus.

In the K-drama All of Us Are Dead, Byeong-chan manipulates rat hormones to create the Jonas Virus. Once infected, humans are transformed into zombies, devoid of fear, self-preservation, and intelligence. The sympathetic nervous system malfunctions, causing the breakdown of the concept of "flight," leading them to attack any uninfected being. Interestingly, a subset of humans possesses a specific gene that results in their transformation into "halfbies," humanoid creatures with an insatiable craving for flesh and enhanced abilities.

13 Protomolecule Sickness (The Expanse)

The protomolecule, created by an ancient extraterrestrial species, served the purpose of terraforming new habitats in The Expanse. However, this molecule possesses the ability to infect intelligent beings through Protomolecule Sickness, as exemplified by Julie Mao's lifeless body. This alien parasite emerges from within her in an attempt to commandeer another host. Furthermore, it is later unveiled that the protomolecule sickness has the capability to alter both living organisms and their surroundings. Significantly, any entity or object that falls victim to this infection becomes an integral part of a collective consciousness, known as the hive mind.

12 The Wildfire Virus (The Walking Dead)

Similar to many contemporary horror stories, The Walking Dead presents a virus as the catalyst for the emergence of zombies. Known as the Wildfire Virus, it initially serves as a bioweapon aimed at paralyzing the nervous system, but swiftly transforms subjects into highly aggressive beings driven by an insatiable thirst for blood. Consequently, all bodily fluids become potent carriers of this remarkably contagious virus, leading to the infection of numerous individuals. Additionally, the virus amplifies the zombies' speed and strength. Fortunately, the characters in The Walking Dead possess two remedies for the zombie virus.

11 Barclay’s Protomorphosis Syndrome (Star Trek: The Next Generation)

In Star Trek: The Next Generation, Season 7, Episode 19, titled "Genesis," Reginald Barclay falls ill with a virus that overwhelms his body's defenses. In an attempt to aid his recovery, he receives a T-cell injection. Unfortunately, instead of assisting, the injected cells undergo a mutation, resulting in the development of a disease that activates dormant genes within individuals. By means of airborne transmission, this condition spreads to another person. Eventually, Barclay's Protomorphosis Syndrome causes all occupants of the USS Enterprise to regress in their evolutionary progression, transforming them into primitive creatures representative of their respective homeworlds.

10 The Ripper Virus (The Vampire Diaries)

During season 5 of The Vampire Diaries, Dr. Wes Maxfield conducts experiments on the Augustine vampires to develop the Ripper Virus. This virus compels vampires to exclusively feed on other vampires instead of humans, and once they start feeding, they are unable to control themselves. As a result, they become so consumed by their thirst that they brutally decapitate their victims, giving rise to the name "Ripper." To enhance the potency of the Ripper Virus, Dr. Maxfield combines it with werewolf venom, a substance known to be lethal to vampires.

9 Ghost Sickness (Supernatural)

In Supernatural, the Buruburu releases an affliction known as Ghost Sickness, an ailment that engenders unfounded terror and replicates the injuries that led to the death of the originating apparition. As the malady advances, those infected begin to experience hallucinations and expel blood through vomiting, ultimately succumbing to a heart attack induced by their terrifying delusions. In contrast to other fictitious maladies, the cure for Ghost Sickness lies in either vanquishing the ghost responsible for its dissemination or replicating the ghost's demise.

8 Greyscale (Game of Thrones)

Greyscale, a deadly affliction in the Game of Thrones universe, results in the decay of flesh and organs. The affected skin takes on a gray, hardened, and crackly appearance, reminiscent of reptile scales. As the disease progresses, Greyscale ravages the internal organs, including the brain and heart. Remarkably, only three individuals have managed to survive this dire ailment: Princess Shireen Baratheon, Jorah Mormont, and The Crabfeeder. Unfortunately, the skin's scars left behind by Greyscale are permanent and incurable.

7 Purity (The X-Files)

6 Monkey Business (Cowboy Bebop)

- The X-Files introduces Purity as an extraterrestrial virus with the ability to induce comas or possess individuals, manifesting through complete eye blackening. This black oil alien conspiracy commences in ancient times, engulfing cavemen as early as 35,000 BC and persisting through present-day occurrences. Remarkably, the virus thrives in Arctic tundras, underwater environments, and regions with minimal to no sunlight, while being highly contagious via various human entrances, including the skin. Ultimately, those infected with the virus unwillingly become hosts for a superior alien entity.

Cowboy Bebop, the popular anime series, takes its viewers on adventurous journeys with amusing plotlines, such as the inclusion of galactic biological warfare. One such storyline involves Monkey Business, a bioweapon devised by the eco-terrorist collective known as Space Warriors, with the primary objective of transforming the entire human population into chimpanzees. Achieving this transformation requires the virus to irreversibly modify the DNA, resulting in a permanent alteration. The Space Warriors firmly believe that the implementation of Monkey Business will cultivate a world where humans no longer adversely impact the environment.

5 The Blue Shadow Virus (Star Wars: The Clone Wars)

4 Captain Trips (The Stand)

In the Star Wars universe, there exists a perilous pathogen called the Blue Shadow Virus. This highly infectious disease has the ability to spread through both water and air, posing a grave threat to entire planets. Within a span of just 48 hours after exposure, its victims succumb to its deadly effects. However, the nefarious Dr. Nuvo Vindi seeks to reemerge this extinct virus for the malevolent purpose of utilizing it as a biological weapon. Fortunately, Padme and Ahsoka successfully thwart his plans and save Naboo from its imminent devastation.

Captain Trips, featured in The Stand, is a highly contagious virus with a fatality rate of over 99 percent, leading to the demise of a vast majority of the global population. This respiratory ailment manifests with symptoms akin to a common cold, alongside excruciating pain, severe swelling, and bouts of delirium. What sets Captain Trips apart from conventional diseases is its ability to mutate at an astonishing pace, rendering all known medications futile in combating its devastating effects. Consequently, the development of an effective vaccine remains an insurmountable challenge. Initially devised as a potent weapon by the United States government, their attempts to contain Captain Trips have proven unsuccessful.

3 Red Fever (Anna)

2 The Kissing Virus (Kissing Game)

In the world of Anna, a fictional pandemic called Red Fever wreaks havoc, distinct from real-life scarlet fever. This deadly outbreak claims the lives of all adults, relentlessly targeting newly pubescent individuals as its new hosts. Initially, the symptoms of this make-believe disease appear rather mild, showcasing mere rashes and fevers. However, the severity of Red Fever lies in its unfathomable fatality rates. Every single infected individual succumbs to this merciless illness, without any known remedy or treatment. Consequently, adolescents on the brink of puberty live in perpetual dread, fully aware that their inevitable demise cannot be thwarted.

The Brazilian thriller Kissing Game revolves around a mysterious illness called the Kissing Virus, which has no connection to real-life mononucleosis. This virus initially manifests as dark sores on the mouth and progresses to dark lines down the neck. Eventually, the marks and scleras become fluorescent, with the entire eyes transforming into a milky white. Notably, the teenagers infected by the Kissing Virus undergo a loss of empathy and become apathetic, resembling zombies affected in their brains rather than their bodies.

1 Hepatitis V (True Blood)

Vampires in the TV series True Blood can contract a unique virus known as Hepatitis V, which is a modified version of Hepatitis D that specifically targets vampires. This virus weakens and slows down its hosts, resulting in the emergence of noticeable black lines on their bodies. Those infected with Hepatitis V endure intense heat and excruciating pain. It takes just two days after being injected with the virus for the vampire to succumb to the illness. Ultimately, the infected vampire undergoes a gruesome transformation, disintegrating into a seething pool of boiling blood, as demonstrated by the demise of Bill Compton in the season 7 finale of True Blood.