And in what way, exactly, is that a virus? Epidemic, at a stretch.
(I'm not typically this pedantic... I just think viruses have particularly interesting information dynamics and it's really weird to me when applied as a metaphor outside of where that would make sense.)
I think "disease" would be a decent description. "Virus" carries way too many implications about things like communicability and origination that clearly don't apply.
I'd say it's more like cancer: lots of stuff influences it, and you can make yourself a lot safer, but it's ultimately fairly random and anybody can fall victim to it. You can't catch it from other people, you can't get vaccinated against it, surviving it doesn't give you any immunity for the next time, better surgical and other medical techniques are making it more survivable.... One big difference, of course, is the age factor.
You might catch memes (drunk driving, reckless driving, street racing) that significantly increase the likelihood that you suffer from it. Still not quite the same thing, of course.
"you can't get vaccinated against it"
The opposite memes from the above would seem to serve a role not too far from inoculation.
"surviving it doesn't give you any immunity for the next time"
Except to the degree that it changes your behavior.
All of that said, I agree. "Disease" is a much better term.
Agreed. Was simply trying to demonstrate that we're far too comfortable with the consequences of unsafe driving. In any other circumstance we'd all be up in arms.
(I'm not typically this pedantic... I just think viruses have particularly interesting information dynamics and it's really weird to me when applied as a metaphor outside of where that would make sense.)