Kuru Sorcery: The Origins of Mad Cow Disease?

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Kuru Sorcery: Danger And Disease In The New Guinea Highlands If you ask most people what "kuru" is they won't have a clue but ask them if they are familiar with "mad cow disease" and chances are they'll know a thing or two about it. For years Kuru remained a mystery to most of the world; the people of New Guinea seemed to have a natural antibody to it but there were an unlucky few that were stricken with the degenerative disease. Since there are several different ways that the disease can progress it was hard to pinpoint exactly who had it when it was first 'discovered'. Some were stricken with the inability to control their bodily functions while others were prone to fits of laughter or manic depression. Ultimately those that contracted Kuru withered away and died. Kuru Sorcery looks at the disease from several different angles; how it is spread, who is most susceptible and how it can be completely eradicated. Sadly, the most common form of contraction is from funerary cannibalism (when parts of the deceased are consumed in ritual fashion). This is one of the hardest forms to stop because it is something that's been ingrained in the remote tribes. The book interviews doctors that have traveled to these villages to study those who have contracted it as well as the 'magic men' that treat them. If you have any interest at all in Mad Cow Disease, cannibalism or spongiform encephalopathy then this is a great read. Chances are most bookstores won't have this in stock but I had no trouble getting it from my local library (on loan from the UPMC library). It isn't overly wordy with unnecessary medical verbage but it does help if you have a basic understanding of biology or life science.