Scientists expose grotesque actuality of cannibalism as consuming human flesh unleashes deadly sickness
Scientists have exposed the grim reality of cannibalism as a new model reveals eating human flesh unleashes fatal diseases that wipe out entire populations
Even the sophisticated palate of Hollywood’s most famous cannibal Hannibal Lecter wouldn’t save him from fatal diseases(Image: ORION PICTURES)
Cannibalism became one of humanity’s ultimate taboos for a terrifying reason, as it can wipe out entire populations with a horrific fatal disease. New research has revealed that shunning the practice of munching on human flesh wasn’t just down to a natural disgust, but a desperate battle for survival.
Scientists from Poland and the Czech Republic discovered that the grim long-term practice of chowing down on your neighbours leads to total population collapse.
Michal Misiak of the University of Wroclaw and Petr Turecek of Charles University in Prague used a chilling mathematical model to expose the true dangers of the gruesome diet.
He said: “We looked at the human body as a potential source of food, analysing both energy gains and hidden costs.”
It turns out that targeting fellow humans for dinner isn’t even worth the effort – and the health risks are catastrophic.
Misiak said: “From a caloric perspective, a person turns out to be an average meal…The key problem, however, lies elsewhere: the risk of infection. Pathogens have an easier task because they end up in an organism with almost identical physiology.”
The experts’ terrifying model shows that the risk of catching a deadly infection skyrockets exponentially when cannibals start eating other cannibals. Even worse, cranking up the heat in the kitchen won’t save you.
Cooking human meat completely fails to destroy prions – misfolded proteins that attack the brain and trigger fatal, incurable neurological diseases.
The nightmare scenario actually played out in the real world with a devastating disease called kuru.
The fatal brain-wasting illness once ravaged the Fore people of Papua New Guinea, who traditionally cooked and ate their dead relatives to free their spirits.
The researchers believe the horrific biological dangers are exactly why human societies locked cannibalism away behind the ultimate social ban.
Misiak said: “Taboo acts as an evolutionary safeguard. Our results suggest that this was a biologically justified response to the growing risk of epidemics. Communities that didn’t curb cannibalism simply didn’t survive.”
