Myth and metaphor are more accepted in Eastern than Western philosophy as paths of knowledge. Myths are created to help explain the unknown. In creating myths we draw upon our imagination and possibly atavistic memories to intuit universal truths. Metaphors by comparison are not created. They already exist and are chosen because they parallel realities.
Some theologians divide sin into sins of commission and sins of omission.
A sin of commission is the harmful consequence of an action. A sin of omission is the harmful consequence of a failure to act. Antiviral monotherapy could also be another example of a sin of commission. A sin of omission could be a metaphor for the failure to initiate the most effective combination antiviral regimen or to fund such a regimen for the poor. Original sin offers another series of related metaphors.