Koi Pla, a traditional fish dish popular in Thailand and Laos, is linked to 20,000 deaths annually due to parasitic flatworms in raw fish, causing bile duct cancer. Dr. Narong Khuntikeo, who lost his parents to this cancer, warns against the dish, but its deep cultural roots make change difficult. His studies show up to 80% of villagers in Thailand’s Isaan province have ingested these parasites, putting them at high risk.
