Uganda: Dinga Dinga Virus Causes Body to Dance Uncontrollably
A strange illness known as “Dinga Dinga" meaning “shaking like dancing" is rapidly spreading in Uganda, Africa.
A strange & mysterious new disease is spreading in Uganda, Africa causing local and international concerns. The mysterious illness, locally called “ Dinga Dinga,” has affected around 300 people so far, mostly girls and women in Uganda's Bundibugyo district.
The symptoms of Dinga Dinga include -
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extreme weakness,
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high fever and
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uncontrollable body shaking, severely impacting the patient’s mobility.
Therefore, the Uganda locals have named the disease “Dinga Dinga,” because it means 'shaking like dancing' in the local language. In several severe cases, people are also experiencing paralysis.
Uganda’s health officials are investigating Dinga Dinga and what is causing it.
They are even focusing highly on preventive measures to stop this mysterious disease from spreading further and have recommended the following:
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maintain good hygiene,
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avoiding contact with affected individuals,
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and promptly report new cases to local health teams.
No deaths caused by Dinga Dinga have been reported yet. The current treatment for Dinga Dinga involves only antibiotics. According to Bundibugyo’s district health officer, Dr Kiyita Christopher, patients are mostly recovering within a week after being given the course of antibiotics. He also revealed that samples from affected individuals are being sent to Uganda's Health Ministry for further & detailed analysis. The report on it is yet to come. Dr Kiyita also urged the locals not to rely on herbal remedies as there is no scientific evidence proving that herbal medicine can treat this disease and asked the locals to stick to the specific treatments by Uganda’s health officials.
International scientists, doctors and experts are comparing Dinga Dinga with France’s "Dancing Plague" of 1518, in which the affected people danced uncontrollably for days, sometimes leading to deaths from exhaustion.
