User blog comment:Mckrongs/Monster Hunter 4 for the Nintendo 3DS/@comment-174.52.104.227-20120921061956/@comment-5489419-20120921083732

I think the Goa Magara status thing is just something that makes other monsters overly aggressive, not so much a "rabies." Like maybe if Goa Magara fired off those projectiles on another monster, that other one would go into rage mode instantly and get a bit of a damage and speed boost. Since you're of a different species, you probably contract the "virus" differently, thus causing you to be more susceptible to hits.

Just speculating.