Kuru is a disease that has affected the Fore people of Papua, New Guinea. This disease is caused by a prion, which is a virus made entirely of protein (most are made of DNA or RNA). The prion affects the neurological system. It is thought that the prion activates other proteins naturally occurring in our cells and causes a mutation which leads to changes in the function of that protein. Prion diseases are often referred to a spongiform encephalitis because it makes the brain sponge like. The disease is passed through ingestion of infected neurological tissue. The Fore people in Papua, New Guinea practice cannibalism which is how they contract the prion.
This disease has the same mode of transmission and action in the neurological tissues as Mad Cow Disease (bovine spongiform encephalitis). Cattle catch the disease because the carcasses of dead cows used to be added to feed to add more protein. Only about a decade ago there was a major outbreak in cattle from Europe. America now bans the import of cattle from Europe because eating beef infected with the prion causes the disease in humans.
Anthropological research was critical to the discovery of the cause of this disease (which is always fatal) because anthropologists were first to observe the cannibalistic behaviour of the Fore people. An economic anthropologist might be interested in Kuru because it would impact export from the area. The Fore people rely of swidden horticulture for their main mode of survival. Females are more likely to get kuru because widows practised a ritual where they eat their deceased husband brain and organs. Children and elderly were also more likely to have kuru because the mothers would feed the deceased to their children and elderly. The emic view of this ritual is that the deceased spirit lives in their family. The etic view is that the people are hungry and need protein.
Kuru: The Dynamics of a Prion Disease
The picture is taken from: http://jreibsane.wikispaces.com/Kuru
i had no idea that mad cow came from europe, it is also extremely creepy that there are canabal people still practicing there rituals.
ReplyDeleteYa the outbreak we had in Canada came from Europe, but I believe that the mutation of the protein can happen at anytime. It's not something like small pox that originates in one area and then spreads. I don't believe the people of New Guinea are still practicing cannibalism because they were educated about it after scientists determined what caused Kuru... But there are still cases of Kuru there.
ReplyDeleteI find it interesting how anthropology not only helps us learn about different cultures and the past but also solves problems which are occurring today. Great post!
ReplyDeleteIs there a way that fore people can stop practizing cannibalism ? so that the disease can stop spreading.
ReplyDeleteIn the previous comment I mentioned that they have stopped the practise of cannibalism. Kuru will never completely stop because the protein that is mutated by the Kuru prion can also mutate spontaneously (although very rare).
ReplyDeleteWow thats sick stuff, i could never imagne eating other humans, but i guess that is where culture differnces come in. and great comment ashley, I truley didnt realize how much anthropologist actually do for us now and our future.
ReplyDeletei did not know that dead cow carcasses were being added to the feed, and for more protein? that is pretty gross. it is amazing how cannibalism could actually be a ritual in the kuru's culture and have a consequence like that. good post, i learned a lot actually :p
ReplyDelete