An 87-year-old Iranian man who has lived on the streets and has not bathed for nearly seven decades has baffled scientists with his remarkably good health.
Amou Haji, 87, resides in a small village near the desert in Fars Province, southern Iran, and is dubbed the “dirtiest man in the world” due to his record of 67 years without bathing. His appearance is shocking, with skin covered in a thick layer of grime made up of dirt and dead skin, eyes nearly obscured, and a potent odor. However, his health is even more surprising.
This man’s health is surprisingly good.
Recently, a team of doctors led by Associate Professor of Parasitology, Dr. Gholamreza Molavi, from the School of Public Health in Tehran, visited Amou Haji in the village of Dejgah and persuaded him to undergo some basic tests, including tests for hepatitis, AIDS, and parasites.
Dr. Molavi and his team were particularly interested in searching for and studying any parasites and bacteria that could thrive in his unwashed body. However, they were astonished to find no harmful bacteria or parasites, except for Trichinosis – a relatively common infectious bacterium, which in his case, did not seem to cause any significant symptoms.
Mr. Amou Haji has not bathed since 1954. (Photo: Imgur).
This shocking discovery reveals that the 87-year-old man regularly consumes raw food found on the streets, such as hedgehogs and rabbits, drinks untreated water from puddles using rusty cans, and is said to smoke… dried animal feces for “entertainment.”
Dr. Molavi believes that the only reasonable explanation for the test results is that Amou Haji has developed an extremely robust immune system after decades of living under harsh conditions.
Scientists also suggest that this man suffers from a condition known as ablutophobia – or the fear of bathing. This is a type of anxiety characterized by a fear of washing.
Despite his good health, Amou Haji, 87, often faces stigma from the community. Many mock him and throw objects at him, prompting the local governor to recently intervene and urge people to leave him alone. Although he appears frightening, Haji is said to be gentle and has never harmed anyone.
