Well i took a couPle of stars off after reading time article of 1957 mention zigas not alpers doing dissections on the same table as they ate apparently hmmm But still a good movie http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,867948,00.html

Yes, more on how Gajdusek got the info on kudu from Macfarlane Burnet. It needed more on the partnership between Zigas and Gajdusek. Why was Klitzman not mentioned? Needed much more on the anthropological work of the Glasses and Matthews. There is some considerable rewriting of history here.

Cudos to Alpers for his research gained from Dr Vin Zigas, who first came across KURU in 1954. He was the first to perform autopsies and take brain samples and asked Dr Gadjusek to help him. Alpers got the research notes in 1957 in Adelaide then proceeded to PNG. This program seems to have slid past these facts. Let not the first Doctor to work on this illness dissappear into oblivion for the sake of television and the glory of some one else. Rest in Peace Dad, and Uncle Carlton. Both of you are the TRUE heros here.

Very interesting, and a great resource if teaching VCE biology. Highly recommended

This is a fantastic documentary that tells the story of how the mystery of Kuru was unravelled. It presents vivid first hand descriptions by the key scientists and doctors as well as villagers who experienced the rise and fall of this most distressing and mysterious neurological epidemic. Most of all it follows the path of that unsung hero and disease detective, Mike Alpers. He is an Australian doctor who remains 'infected' with relentless desire to understand this deeply unsettling disease. A man who should have been awarded the Nobel prize for his contribution to this story, and whilst most of his generation have long since retired, he hikes up mountains in pursuit of the 'last case'. This is how science documentaries should be.

Though I have not viewed the disc 'Kuru' I did have in 1974 a 16mm film showing the affects of Kuru photographed by Dr Vincent Zigas who at the time lived in Kimbe West New Britain Province. Whether true or not Dr Zigas admitted taking part in cannibalism rituals eating human flesh (brains) from dead persons. Anyone who knew Dr Zigas found he acted as did the natives in the film being most unsteady. I can state this now as Dr Zigas passed away some time ago. As to the whereabouts of the film sadly I can't say today. Ken Crompton

Where will these discoveries lead?