Aw come on, it was a joke. - It's just familiar enough to confuse you because it's different.
Funneling research away from important things and killing off people with Reservoir Conditions. Reservoir Conditions are random occurrences where live state Kellis-Amberlee takes up residence in one part of the body, like George's eyes, and hangs out permanently until your personal virus load kicks in at your death or by introduction to the system.