Post 3: The Unsettling Laughing Sickness

Zombies are famous icons in the horror genre. I don’t think there’s anyone in the 21^st century who hasn’t heard the word zombie before. From black magic to animal diseases, there were many different causes why this infection started, one of which was something called Kuru.

Kuru is a rare degenerative disease that has affected only, mysteriously enough, the Fore tribe in Papua, New Guinea. According to the article "Kuru: The Laughing Sickness- The Oddest & Rarest Infectious Disease in The World" by Francesca Fiore, the main cause of this disease, which had been thoroughly researched by Australian doctors in 1957, was not because of the environmental toxins nor was it hereditary. Because of the unknown causes, and also because of the tribe’s lack of communication outside, they have thought this disease was because of witchcraft, or a curse placed on their family.

As stated in this article by Dennis O'Neil, it was not until the late 1950’s when American pediatrician Carleton Gajdusek came to try and solve the problem. It was discovered through the microscopic examination of dead Kuru victims, he discovered that the disease organism was carried through the bloodstream and was concentrated in the brain tissue.

When you look at the microscopic view of the brain tissues of Kuru and compare them to classic CJD (most commonly known as Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease) and Scrapie, it was clear enough for them to conclude that Kuru is caused by prions. And because of this, it has spread some light on what was the cause of this incurable disease; it was the Fore tribe’s unusual funeral ceremony: the consumption of dead relatives. Or most commonly called as cannibalism.

“They weren't,  for the most part, what we have come to think of as cannibals in Western culture. They didn't contract the disease from so-called headhunting. They became afflicted with Kuru from their bizarre funeral customs.”

To bring out stronger evidence, those afflicted with the disease are mostly women and children, who ate the less desirable parts of the body which includes the brain. Another factor, as the article states, is the women’s exposure to the deceased’s blood and tissues from food preparation, bringing a higher risk when they’re exposed on cuts and open sores.

Today, cannibalism in New Guinea is outlawed, but there are still those out there who are affected due to the disease’s long incubation period, some of which lasted up to 30 years. And because of this, it is now believed that the disease is completely extinct.

Although it is not the only culture-specific disease out there, Kuru is a very notable disease and has been a source of inspiration in some notable works.

Post 2: Different Cultural Views on Alcohol Consumption

To cope with the stress the people suffer from –whether it is from work, exams, or other known factor- it is only natural for people to indulge in something to enjoy and indulge in to relax and let loose. One of these, of course, is drinking. Alcohol has played a large part in many, if not all, human cultures since Neolithic times, approximately about 4000 B.C. But it’s something left unsaid that drinking can be bad when taken to extreme levels.

Alcoholism is one of the many problems our society faces, and also one of the primary factors in minor crimes. Many of these vary between ethnicity  countries and cultural upbringing; not only that, but it is also affected by certain factors, such as one’s environment or situation. Some cultures have Alcoholism as a problematic yet prevalent part of everyday life; there are also some who have had little to none of this problem, even viewing it as “rare” and “indecent”.

While searching for disorders, ailments and diseases which are viewed differently between countries, I've come across an article by Dr. Stanton Peele called “Alcohol and Society: How Culture Influences the Way People Drink”, an article which explores the different factors that affects one’s drinking habits. Although it was long, it was informational and helpful in determining in what way our culture affects our habits, specifically in this article, alcohol consumption.

“The destructive personal and social consequences of alcohol abuse are not entirely or even largely due to the prevalence of drinking or the amount of alcohol consumed.”

One of the things that caught my eye in the article is how one culture, specifically Italians and Chinese people, have introduced alcohol to young people as a part of everyday life and in doing so, have them develop self-control and a moderate drinking practice. There is no specific law where an underage child should be protected from alcohol in countries such as France and China; while in countries such as Italy and Spain, children are given small quantities of wine as a routine part of a meal and celebration. In Jewish culture, children are taught that wine is something sacred, and can only be consumed as an act of communion.

And one of the things I noticed about the factors of cultures with immoderate drinking habits have no concrete social customs about drinking etiquette, which then leads to people relying on their peers and people in their social norms, some if which lead to peer pressure into drinking. Along with that, there is also the factor in one country where drinking is inexcusable, abstinence is approved. Without someone who would lead them into a proper moderate drinking habit, a person may end up drinking into excess, leading to alcohol abuse. Along with that is the strict government rule about drinking. And as most of us know, most of these are not followed; simply because of the thrill one feels when someone breaks the rules.


People should take note that drinking is not a bad thing, depending on their beliefs. Indulging is normal for us, but we should also remember that doing certain things in excess is awful, and that we should remember to take things in moderation and with self-control.

Post 1: How does one define a Disease?

It’s not a question that the world is still full of mysteries. Even as humans evolve from the Stone Age to the 21^st Century, there are still a lot more to uncover, ideas to formulate. Outside this sphere-shaped planet that’s full of life, there's still more to learn what is beyond our home.

As a student, I still got a lot to learn, things to experience, and to enjoy my youth and go through mistakes and errors. I’m not an expert, certainly not at this age, but I’m more than willing to push myself to the limits if it means that I can find answers to my questions, especially my thirst to know about a particular subject.

From a young age, diseases and medical conditions have always fascinated me, up until now. And even if I already took another path in life, this topic is still something very special to me, to the point that when I have nothing else to do, I’ll just search through the internet —specifically Wikipedia—and click on a random ailment whose name piqued my interest.

A disease is a complex subject, with a lot of terminologies, sub-categories, types, stages and scopes. The topic is limitless; for as the human population evolves with time, so does the dangers that affects out health.  Along with those are the questions that bother the minds that take on this particular matter.

What is the cause? What are the effects? How do we stop it, and how do we prevent it?

But before we dwell into those, let us first go back to the basic question: what is a disease?

“It’s a condition that affects our health.” You may say. But disease is not as simple as that. Even I defined it as such at first. As I searched through the internet about diseases, I came across an article by Jackie Leach Scully titled, appropriately enough, “What is a disease?”, an analysis of how does one define the term, how it is used interchangeably with 'disability', and if one should consider something as a disability if we look through someone's experience.

And as I read through the article, my definition of the term changed entirely, and up until now, I still ask myself, just how do you define a disease? As the author said, it’s not helpful to define it simply as the antonym of “health”. I mean, really?

“It might not be easy to articulate what a disease is, but we like to think we would at least all know when we saw one. Unfortunately, this is problematic as well. Notions of health are highly context-dependent, as human diseases only exist in relation to people, and people live in varied cultural contexts.”

The article itself opened my viewpoints and had me thinking through the night on how the term “disease” has evolved not only through history, but through different cultures as well. Disease and things that are abnormal to society is often molded into the same term that it sparks arguments on different sides. An example would be obesity.

In historical times, obesity was once a status symbol, something that is often regarded as a sign of wealth, fertility, and prestige, particularly in Medieval and Renaissance times where the upper class started to flaunt their robust figures. But nowadays, it’s mostly regarded as a disease that affects our health, and being slim is the newest trend. The keyword here is ‘mostly’; note that in some countries where food is scarce such as certain parts in Africa, being bigger than average is still a sign of wealth, and who are we to judge them?

And to make matters a bit more complicated, despite the fact that I do say that it is a sign of fertility in the olden days, not everyone thought so. The Greeks, who believed in moderation, were the first to categorize obesity as a disease, as well as the Christian European people, who had believed that food will lead to sins of Gluttony, Lust and Sloth.  And with modern society, there are those narrow-minded people who mistakenly use the term “obese” for people with a simply above-average weight and full appearance.

An painting portraying a man of wealth and status.

Like how Jackie Leach Scully pointed out how homosexuality is regarded as a disease before, it is now more of a preference, or a specific subculture. But even when the majority thinks of it like that, there will always be someone who will think otherwise.

To define disease depends on who you are talking to, from what culture, and what beliefs. It’s complex and confusing, but it’s something that provokes us to think, to find answers, and put in our two cents.