Mystery illness: More girls develop Tourette's-like tics

MSNBC ^ | 1.27.2012 | Linda Carroll

[wolfcreek]

Erin Brockovich is on the case! The environmental activist, made famous by the 2000 movie starring Julia Roberts as the crusading single mom, tells USA TODAY she is investigating the case of more than a dozen teens from one upstate New York school plagued by mysterious, Tourette's-like symptoms. One neurologist who has seen most of the affected girls has diagnosed their illness as psychological in origin; but that diagnosis has been difficult for some parents and community members to accept. Brockovich told USA TODAY that at the request of local residents, she is looking into a 1970 train accident that spilled cyanide and an industrial solvent called trichloroethene close to the site of the Le Roy, New York school

[wolfcreek]

I'd take a vacation from this place and see it that helps.

Otherwise, I'd be hopping mad that something was making my children ill.

[Doulos1]

Just a case of the sick-building syndrome.
Common among the immature and impressionable.

[mvpel]

Brockovitch does realize that 1970 was forty-two years ago, right? Why would it be just showing up now, with only a dozen girls?

What a vulture she is.

[FReepaholic]

...she is looking into a 1970 train accident that spilled cyanide and an industrial solvent called trichloroethene close to the site of the Le Roy, New York school...

How many people in the past 42 years have come down with these symptoms? It's a stretch to link a 1970's incident with what's happening today.

My bet is on the girls huffing paint, glue, smoking synthetic pot or something.

[Niuhuru]

I have to agree. Brockovitch is probably determined to recapture her past glory and go after a bunch of evil white businessmen.

[SoldierDad]

Brockovich told USA TODAY that at the request of local residents, she is looking into a 1970 train accident that...

How old is this school? You'd think that something which occurred more than 40 years ago, if there would be negative health consequences, would have surfaced before now!

[ClearCase_guy]

Basically the Salem Witch Trials all over again.

Young girls, mass hysteria, physical symptoms caused by psychological problems.

And now we need to find scapegoats who can be punished.

[jakerobins]

Erin seems to be in full attention seeking mode.....But maybe just because I’m a skeptic I wonder if this isn’t some sort of hysteria with a group of girls?

[giotto]

How many people in the past 42 years have come down with these symptoms?

Excellent question. I wonder if they've considered vaccines, maybe Gardusil. Vaccines have been known to have disastrous neurological effects.

Drug use? Maybe, but sooner or later one of them would have confessed.

[ZX12R]

Basically the Salem Witch Trials all over again. Young girls, mass hysteria, physical symptoms caused by psychological problems. And now we need to find scapegoats who can be punished.

Good post, and likely correct.

[Joe 6-pack]

"My bet is...smoking synthetic pot or something."

My first thought. I'll bet there's a headshop in town selling 'bath salts.'

[piytar]

The Truth About Erin Brockovich

[momtothree]

This case is really weird to me. I wonder if all of the initial 12 girls were close friends? What would worry me as a parent is more girls and one boy has come forward with this neurological issue. So is the mass hysteria increasing with more students or is there something else within the confines of a school they just haven’t found yet? Sounds like a case for Scully and Mulder.

[Maverick68]

Mass hysteria ala “The Crucible”

[Jan_Sobieski]

Don't Public Schools typically recommend (demand) vaccinations to kids at certain ages? Perhaps all of these girls were strongly encouraged to get Gardasil shots around the same time. It was a bad lot and they all started exhibiting the symptoms. This sounds more plausible than any other cause mentioned.

I am told one of the warnings on the Gardasil containers is possible Neurological problems...

[Ramius]

Exactly.

“Cotton Mather, please pick up the white courtesy phone... Cotton Mather...”

[moehoward]

"Young girls, mass hysteria, physical symptoms caused by psychological problems"

Just girls? hmmmmm.....

[stuartcr]

My money is on demons.

[ZX12R]

My money is on demons.



WILL WORK FOR FOOD

[Fawn]

Otherwise, I'd be hopping mad that something was making my children ill.

You mean besides the food, water, grass fertilizer, weed killer, mosquito repellent, soda chemicals, artificial sweeteners, carpet/drapes fire retardant chemicals, air conditioning and factory exhaust?