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Spotlight On
Kuru
Kuru is a rare, incurable, and fatal neurodegenerative disorder that was formerly common among the Fore people of Papua New Guinea
Prevalence
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Age of Onset
ICD-10
A81.8
Inheritance
Autosomal dominant
Autosomal recessive
Mitochondrial/Multigenic
X-linked dominant
X-linked recessive
5 Facts you should know
FACT
Kuru belongs to a class of infectious diseases called transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs), also known as prion diseases
FACT
Kuru is a rare and fatal brain disorder that occurred at epidemic levels during the 1950s-1960s among the Fore people in the highlands of New Guinea
FACT
The disease was the result of the practice of ritualistic cannibalism among the Fore, in which relatives prepared and consumed the tissues (including the brain) of deceased family members
FACT
Brain tissue from individuals with Kuru was highly infectious, and the disease was transmitted either through eating or by contact with open sores or wounds
FACT
Government discouragement of the practice of cannibalism led to a continuing decline in the disease, which has now mostly disappeared
Interest over time
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Common signs & symptoms
Abnormality of eye movement
Ataxia
Mental deterioration
Neurodegeneration
Unsteady gait
Current treatments
Management of Kuru typically focuses on supportive care to alleviate symptoms and improve the quality of life for affected individuals. This may include:
Symptomatic Treatment:
Medications can be prescribed to manage symptoms such as tremors, muscle stiffness, and pain. However, these treatments do not halt the progression of the disease
Physical Therapy
Physical therapy may be recommended to help maintain mobility, improve muscle strength, and prevent complications such as contractures and pressure sores
Nutritional Support
Adequate nutrition is important for individuals with Kuru to maintain overall health. Nutritional supplements or feeding tubes may be necessary if swallowing difficulties develop
Psychosocial Support
Counseling and support services can be valuable for both patients and their families to address the emotional and psychological impact of the disease
Given that Kuru is now extremely rare and largely confined to historical cases in certain regions of Papua New Guinea, research into treatments for the disease has been limited. Prevention efforts have been successful in halting the spread of Kuru by eliminating the practice of ritualistic cannibalism, which was the primary mode of transmission.