Uganda meet on mystery disease

Uganda is this week hosting a four-day international conference on nodding syndrome that health officials believe will lead to a clearer understanding of the mysterious disease.

The disease is calling nodding syndrome, or nodding head disease, because those who have it nod their heads and sometimes go into epileptic-like fits. The disease stunts children and destroys their cognition, rendering them unable to perform even small tasks.

World Health Organization officials in Uganda said the conference will be attended by about 120 scientists from all over the world.