What does kuru mean?

Answer 1

Kuru is a rare and fatal neurodegenerative disorder caused by prion infection, primarily affecting the Fore people of Papua New Guinea. It is characterized by tremors, loss of coordination, and cognitive decline, often leading to death within months to years after symptoms onset. The disease was historically transmitted through ritualistic cannibalism, particularly the consumption of infected brain tissue. Kuru is part of a group of diseases known as transmissible spongiform encephalopathies.