Is Dinga Dinga the Next Epidemic? Uganda’s Mysterious Illness Causes Fear and Confusion

A mysterious disease causing uncontrollable trembling, as if dancing has emerged in Uganda, prompting health authorities to investigate.

Last Saturday, Business Insider Africa, citing Ugandan media outlet The Monitor, reported over 300 cases of a mysterious new illness known as “Dinga Dinga” in Bundibugyo District, Uganda.

The disease, Dinga Dinga, is named after a local term meaning “to shake like dancing.” Symptoms include fever and whole-body tremors, making walking impossible in severe cases.

The illness has so far only been reported in Bundibugyo District, primarily affecting women, including teenage girls.

An 18-year-old patient, Patience Katusiime, described her experience: “I felt weak and paralyzed. With every step I took, my body shook uncontrollably. I was so anxious that I sought treatment at a nearby hospital. Fortunately, I am fine now.”

In most cases, the disease resolved naturally within a week without treatment, though some patients required hospitalization for persistent symptoms.

Some patients have attempted herbal remedies and traditional methods to alleviate symptoms, but the effectiveness of these approaches remains unproven.

Local health official Dr. Kiyita Christopher said, “We generally treat the illness with antibiotics. There is no scientific evidence to support traditional methods. We advise residents to seek treatment at medical facilities within the district.”

Health authorities continue investigating the disease but have not yet identified its cause. No deaths have been reported in connection with Dinga Dinga.

The Monitor reported that Dinga Dinga was first identified in early 2023, following an outbreak of monkeypox (now called Mpox) in the East African Community. However, no causal link between Mpox and Dinga Dinga has been established.