Fore people

The Fore people are an indigenous group from Papua New Guinea, known for their unique cultural practices and social structure. They gained attention in the 1950s due to an epidemic of Kuru, a rare brain disease caused by prion infection, linked to their funerary practices, where they consumed the flesh of deceased relatives. This practice was part of their cultural traditions, which emphasized respect for the dead. The Fore people's experiences highlighted critical aspects of health, culture, and the impact of disease, prompting important research in medicine and anthropology.