A Review of Infectious Diseases Associated with Religious and Nonreligious Rituals
Kiran Gajurel, Stan Deresinski
Abstract
Rituals are an integral part of human life but a wide range of rituals (both religious and non-religious), from self-flagellation to blood brotherhood to ritual sprinkling of holy water, have been associated with transmission of infections. These infections include angiostrongyliasis, anthrax, brucellosis, cholera, COVID-19, cutaneous larva migrans, Ebola, hepatitis viruses, herpes simplex virus, HIV, human T-cell leukemia virus (HTLV), kuru, Mycobacterium bovis, Naegleria fowleri meningoencephalitis, orf, rift valley fever, and sporotrichosis. Education and community engagement are important cornerstones in mitigating infectious risks associated with rituals.
Topics & Concepts
VirologyTransmission (telecommunications)Rift Valley feverKuruMedicineStomatitisVirusDermatologyScrapiePathologyDiseaseElectrical engineeringEngineeringPrion proteinTravel-related health issuesViral Infections and VectorsZoonotic diseases and public health