I’ve read of accounts of “Kuru” and from what I’ve read the diseases caused by prions generally have a long incubation period, and that it can take a very singular prion to cascade into a complete disease.
In: Biology
Prions haven’t caused a human epidemic mainly because they don’t spread easily between people, have a long incubation period, and are quite rare. Unlike viruses, prions require direct contact with infected tissue for transmission, which is uncommon in most societies. The long incubation period means symptoms take years to show, reducing the risk of spread. Additionally, strict control measures, especially in food industries, have been implemented to prevent outbreaks, such as those seen with mad cow disease. So, despite their potential for harm, the unique characteristics of prions and our preventive efforts have kept large-scale outbreaks at bay.
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