Plague Heads - An etymological history

‘Plague-Head” originated as a slang term even before the Infected were recognized as something no longer human.  This more colloquial term quickly outpaced the competing title of ‘Plague-Bringer’, likely because it seemed to capture better the mindless nature of this particular Infected. It referred to the fact that those who survived the initial days after exposure to the pathogen began to exhibit the overwhelming compulsion to violate their quarantines and ensure the virus was passed on to new hosts.  This desire first expressed itself subtly, but quickly the Infected became irrevocably single-minded and violent.  Later notes, after the Fall, recorded the curious fact that despite their mindlessness, these ‘Plague-Heads’ seemed remarkably well-adapted to the post-societal world.  This news struck a blow against those hoping for a quick return to pre-Horseman society.