1. a fatal degenerative brain disease found among certain Papua New Guinea tribes, caused by prions and transmitted through ritualistic cannibalism
Usage: medical; anthropological

Examples

• Kuru was first documented among the Fore people of Papua New Guinea in the 1950s.
• The disease kuru provided important insights into prion-based neurological disorders.
• Researchers studying kuru helped advance understanding of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies.
• The incidence of kuru declined dramatically after cannibalistic practices ceased.
• Kuru symptoms include tremors, difficulty walking, and progressive neurological deterioration.