PARASITES IN HUMANS - THE CAUSE OF 99% OF ALL HUMAN ILLNESSES

Scientists have discovered that a high-fat diet allows the immune system to eliminate a parasitic worm which is a major cause of death and illness in the developing world.

Parasitic worms affect up to a billion people, particularly in developing nations with poor sanitation. One of these parasites known as “whipworm” can cause long lasting infections in the large intestine.

Researchers from Lancaster University and the University of Manchester in the UK have discovered that a high-fat diet allows the immune system to eliminate the parasite.

Lead author Dr Evelyn Funjika, formerly at Manchester and now at the University of Zambia, said: “Just like the UK, the cheapest diets are often high in fat and at-risk communities to whipworm are increasingly utilising these cheap diets. Therefore, how worm infection and western diets interact is a key unknown for developing nations.