kuru

noun ku·ru \ ˈku̇r-(ˌ)ü \

Definition of kuru

:a rare progressive fatal prion disease that resembles Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and has occurred among tribespeople in eastern New Guinea who engaged in a form of ritual cannibalism

Recent Examples of kuru from the Web

In the 1950s, D. Carleton Gajdusek, an American research scientist, traveled to Papua New Guinea to study a disease called kuru that infected as many as 2,500 natives in the highlands.

— mark johnson, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "In tracking a lethal family of diseases that threatens humans and animals, scientists have become the hunters," 6 July 2017
The disease predominantly struck women and children, who customarily handled the brains and organs of dead kuru victims during Fore funerals.

— special to the washington post, The Denver Post, "When a genetic test can mean life or death," 6 Apr. 2017
These mysterious misfolded proteins are thought to cause kuru, scrapie, and mad cow disease, as well as the fatal insomnia referred to in the title.

— wired staff, WIRED, "Reviews," 1 Oct. 2006

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'kuru.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of kuru

Fore (language of eastern highland Papua New Guinea)

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1957

See Words from the same year

Medical Dictionary

kuru

noun ku·ru \ ˈku̇(ə)r-(ˌ)ü \

medical Definition of kuru

:a rare progressive fatal prion disease that resembles Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and has occurred among tribespeople in eastern New Guinea who engaged in a form of ritual cannibalism — called also laughing death, laughing sickness