The illness, which affects more than two hundred million people worldwide, is caused by parasitic flatworms.
Many researchers now believe that a predisposition to the illness, which tends to run in families, may be genetic.
The announcement does not mean that the illness, which has been mild in most people, has become any worse.
The research might also open a door to new treatments for the illness, which is often unaffected by standard drugs.
Mr. Copeland takes antipsychotic medication when he needs it for the illness, which is, so far, incurable.
The illness, which is common among children and treatable, has in this case affected adults, as well.
In April, University Health Services (UHS) confirmed 12 cases of the illness, which begins like a cold and develops into a severe cough.
A screening of Hartford children for asthma shows that 41percentt have the illness, which city officials and environmental activists believe is the highest rate in the country.
Despite the efforts of doctors, Uncle Panda, his new wife and cousin Nancy, Junior wasn't able to fight off the effects of the illness, which included extreme diarrhea.
She will now pursue her transition from track runner to marathon runner, having cracked the illness which played such a part in her effort here two years ago.
Merck and GlaxoSmithKline have developed vaccines for the illness, which is the second-most-common cancer among women after breast cancer, and kills 250,000 women a year.
