What is Dinga-Dinga, The Dancing Plague That Is Spreading In Uganda?

Uganda's Bundibugyo district is undergoing wave of a strange disease known as Dinga Dinga, which means "shaking like dancing". This new disease has left locals and experts unclear of what exactly is happening and how to deal with it. As per the reports, it is affecting women are girls, and is causing severe bodily tremors, which is making it impossible for them to walk, or to do any daily activities. This severe tremors is what locals are calling "Dinga Dinga", or "shaking like dancing".

Not much is known about it, however, there are certain symptoms which have been seen:

Since it is still a relatively new disease, not much is known about it. Though, the healthcare professionals are actively investigating the disease, especially by collecting samples from affected individuals. These samples are sent to Uganda's Ministry of Health for analysis. For now, antibiotics are used to treat patients.

As per a District Health Officer Dr Kiyita Christopher: "Most patients recover within a week of receiving medical care." The doctor has also urged locals to seek treatment from district health facilities instead of relying on "unverified herbal remedies".

Furthermore, there are public health campaigns too, which are trying to raise awareness about the illness so people could be educated about the early symptoms and to take proper care of the condition.

While the exact cause is still unknown, there are speculation that this could be a viral infection or something related to environmental elements. However, as of now, no definite solution has been found.

The condition however is being linked to the Dancing Plague of 1518 or dance epidemic of 1518 that occurred in Strasbourg, Alsace, modern-day France, in the then Holy Roman Empire. It was known as Épidémie dansante de 1518 in French. It is said that some 50 to 400 people took to dancing for weeks. John Waller suggested that it was a stress-induced mass hysteria, this is one of the most popular theories among all suggested for this phenomenon.

In history too, it is recorded, a poem from the contemporary chronicles describe: "women and men who dance and hope...In the public market, in alleys and streets, Day and night" until the "sickness" finally stops. Another writer has described dancers being sent to St Vitus' shrine outside the city, where they were given "small crosses and red shoes".

The outbreak is said to begin in July 1518, when a woman named Frau Troffea began to dance. In fact, this plague reached present-day Germany and other parts of the Holy Roman Empire. Despite the historical documents, which also includes physician notes, the source of the outbreak is still unknown.