The Origins and Transmission of Kuru
Kuru disease, locally known as “the laughing sickness,” was first identified among the Fore people of Papua New Guinea in the 1950s. It mainly affected women and children within specific communities, which led to its recognition as a distinct prion disease.
The transmission of Kuru occurs through the ritualistic cannibalization of the deceased. Anthropological research showed that the Fore people had cannibalistic funerary customs, including consuming the brains of deceased family members. These practices exposed individuals to infectious prions, causing the development of Kuru.
Symptoms and Progression of Kuru
Symptoms of Kuru include tremors, an unsteady gait, muscle stiffness, and eventually progressive dementia, leading to death within a year of symptom onset. Due to the specific cultural practices involved in its spread, Kuru remained confined within the Fore population for many years.
The Decline of Kuru
In the 1950s, scientists and medical experts uncovered the connection between Kuru and its mode of transmission. As knowledge and understanding of Kuru increased, efforts were made to dissuade and eliminate cannibalistic practices, resulting in a significant decline in the disease. Additionally, in 1957, the Australian government prohibited cannibalism in the affected regions of Papua New Guinea, further curbing the spread of the disease.
These combined measures, along with improvements in healthcare and education, have led to a remarkable decrease in the incidence of Kuru. The disease is now considered extremely rare and is no longer a public health concern in New Guinea.
Prion Diseases: A Continued Threat?
Although Kuru has been effectively eradicated, the risk of exposure to prion diseases still lingers. Creutzfeldt – Jakob Disease (CJD) and its variant, vCJD, continue to pose a threat, and their occurrences are being closely monitored by medical professionals around the globe.