People in New Guinea still believe that deaths are caused by curses, and seek to kill the "witches" responsible.

Persecution of "witches" is common in Africa. The idea that it is possible to kill by magic seems to be a world-wide pattern of superstition; it was found in most places in the world. The awareness that this is impossible is due to modern rationalism.

In Mexico, according to a book I read, some "witches" really can kill — with toxic bacteria or fungus they find in caves, not with curses.