Villagers Blame Evil Spirits As Several Girls Have Mass Fits

[Carol]

VIENTIANE, Laos -- Villagers in one Laos town believe evil spirits are responsible for mass fits among dozens of high school girls last month.

On April 25, a girl began shaking uncontrollably in her classroom. On seeing her, 21 others began to exhibit similar symptoms. The next day, 14 more girls were similarly affected as they were walking into the school.

An ambulance was called to the school and several girls were taken to the provincial hospital, where authorities could not establish the cause of the fits.

One doctor said the fits could have resulted from stress and that some girls might have fallen into a state of shock when they saw the condition of their friends. Townspeople called in monks to bless the school and get rid of "evil spirits."

Source: http://www.nbc10.com/health/9158162/detail.html