I guess I don't think it is as bad as everyone thinks. It seems pretty good to me, the reactions fairly on par with shock. These people don't have the knowledge we all do about the TWD universe yet.
We also know that in the TWD universe that everyone has the virus, so it makes sense that it started with people that die, such as overdosing, or being shot by police. The kept saying homeless, but that I think is because walkers look like that, dirty, etc.
I also like how it seems medical and police have an idea of what is going on, but not really.