Mass Hysteria
19 more fall sick in Khagrachhari
Mass hysteria affected people undergoing treatment at Khargachhari Adhunik Sadar Hospital.Photo: STAR
At least 32 people of Guimarapara area under Matiranga upazila in the district fell sick during the last couple of days as a mass psychogenic illness spread in the area. Ten of the affected people were admitted to Khagrachhari Adhunik Sadar Hospital on last Thursday and 19 others were admitted yesterday, hospital sources said. "The disease first appeared in the village on April 2 and affected 15 teen-aged boys and girls in a week. Consequently it sprayed to the whole village, said Haripada Tripura, member of Guimara union parishad. The patients fell down suddenly and became unconscious with convulsion. After regaining consciousness, they felt weakness and pain in the body and started behaving in a crazy way, said Ratandhan Tripura, father of a patient, who was hospitalised yesterday. Ratandhan blamed some local charmers for 'causing' the disease by incantations to gain financial benefit. Khagrachhari District Civil Surgeon Dr Hassan Imam Chowdhuary said three medical teams are working in Guimarapara area and the situation is under control now. "Outbreak of mass psychogenic illness usually occurs during time of worry and anxiety. The sickness is aggravated by malnutrition, tension and lack of tolerance. The victims mostly belong to the age group of 12 to 25 years," he said.
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