Kuru is a rare and fatal neurodegenerative disorder caused by prion proteins, which are misfolded proteins that can induce other proteins to misfold. It primarily affected the Fore people of Papua New Guinea, where it was transmitted through ritualistic cannibalism, particularly the consumption of brain tissue from deceased individuals. Symptoms include tremors, loss of coordination, and severe neurological decline. The disease is part of a group of conditions known as prion diseases, which also includes Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and BSE (bovine spongiform encephalopathy). Kuru was first identified in the 1950s, and its decline is attributed to the cessation of cannibalistic practices. There is currently no cure for kuru, and it is considered a public health concern in affected regions.