Corruption

The Corruption is a communicable disease among the Zoarari. It is most easily contracted during memory transfers, though it can sometimes be transferred through sexual contact. The Corruption alters the infected Zo's memories with various effects ranging from physical pain at memory recall to jumbled memories to substantial memory loss. It causes permanent, significant psychological impairment to about 20% of cases; another 20% make a complete recovery; the remaining 60% sustain permanent damage only to specific memories, causing occasional symptoms but not impeding their daily lives. Regardless of the ultimate outcome, corrupted Zo remain an infection risk for the rest of their lives.

The corruption has only been present in the Zoarari since several years after they made first contact with the Myphym. It is generally accepted among scientists that one of the many viruses that inhabit Myphym bodies mutated to survive in the complex, sensitive network of fluids that comprise the Zoarari nervous system; it was probably first transmitted via cross-species sexual contact. This is the only known case of exonosis, or cross-contamination of disease between alien species; it is still considered something of a scientific miracle.