Uncanny Case No. 003: The Dance Epidemic of 1518

The Dance Epidemic of 1518, also known as the Dancing Plague, occurred in Strasbourg, Alsace (now France) when hundreds of people began dancing uncontrollably for days without rest. This bizarre event resulted in exhaustion, injuries, and several deaths. The cause remains unclear, though theories suggest mass hysteria or ergot poisoning (from a toxic fungus that grows on damp rye). The authorities responded by encouraging more dancing, thinking it would end the phenomenon, but this only exacerbated the situation until it gradually subsided.