What Is Dinga Dinga, The Mysterious Viral Condition That Has Left Women and Girls Shaking In Uganda?

A mysterious illness—locally referred to as Dinga Dinga which means shaking like dancing—has wreaked havoc in Uganda, affecting over 300 people in Bundibugyo district. According to health authorities, the condition, predominantly impacting women and girls, is characterized by fever and excessive body shaking, hampering mobility.

Dr. Kiyita Christopher, the district health officer, said the illness is currently being treated with antibiotics given by community health teams, and no fatalities have been reported.

“There is no scientific evidence that herbal medicine can treat this disease. We are using specific treatments, and patients usually recover within a week. I urge locals to seek treatment from health facilities within the district,” he said.

Doctors say the shaking in the condition is so severe that it looks like a person is dancing and makes walking nearly impossible. In some cases, it is followed by paralysis, making even simple movements difficult. While it mostly affects women and girls, some men have been affected as well.

Doctors say while the infected people are being treated with antibiotics, recovery typically takes about a week or ten days.

Experts are comparing the outbreak with the phenomenon of the “Dancing Plague” of 1518 in Strasbourg, France, where people uncontrollably danced for days, sometimes leading to exhaustion-related deaths.

Approximately 400 individuals have been affected, with 394 cases and 30 fatalities reported in the Panzi health zone, according to the World Health Organization.

According to experts, a few common signs and symptoms of Dinga Dinga include:

• Fever
• Headache
• Cough
• Runny nose
• Body aches

Meanwhile, investigations are also underway to determine if respiratory pathogens like influenza, COVID-19, malaria, or measles are the cause, however, the illness remains unidentified pending lab results.

Maternal mortality in Uganda remains high, with over 400 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births, according to data by the World Health Organization. The majority of maternal deaths are caused by unsafe abortion, obstetric complications like bleeding, infection, hypertensive disorders, and obstructed labour, and pregnancy-related conditions like malaria, diabetes, hepatitis, and anemia.

In 2021, the healthy life expectancy for women in Uganda was 58.9 years, marking a 15.4-year improvement from 2000.

According to experts, at present, Indians should not be concerned about Dinga Dinga, as the disease presently is confined to just one district in Uganda.

However, doctors advise that travellers should avoid Uganda for now or have recently returned from abroad; they must go through proper health screening. Watch out for symptoms like fever, weakness, or shivering, visit a doctor immediately, and maintain social distancing.

As investigations into the virus continue, health authorities are keeping a close eye on the situation. This situation serves as a reminder of how quickly new diseases can emerge and spread. The appearance of Dinga Dinga suggests the importance of staying informed, following health recommendations and taking necessary precautions to protect yourself and those around you.

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