IMO, that’s kind of the point. The world is sick enough already and what’s being displayed on TWD will probably happen once TFoC (The Failure of Civility) occurs.
It’s obvious on the show that the danger isn’t really the zombies. It’s the people that are around that are your biggest threat.
TWD fans won’t be as freaked out when the real stuff hits the fan.
Most of the people I see around me around zombies for real. Have you talked to people lately. Walking idiots, walking dead, not much difference. I can easily dance around most I come in contact with on a daily basis. Forget any engaging, meaningful conversation with them. My husband says when he goes into the sauna after his workout the dodos sit there sweating, texting on their stupid cell phones.