THE mystery illness continuing to plague North West District has caused unease in Region One (Barima/Waini), prompting an emergency meeting last Monday.

The gathering, at Santa Rosa Secondary School, heard that, since classes resumed, 12 teenage girls were affected.

In attendance were members of the Parent/Teachers Association, Village Toshao Marco De Souza, educators including some retired teachers and Roman Catholic Priest, Father Oscar Barraza.

Headteacher of Santa Rosa Secondary, Mr. Glynn De La Cruz said those gathered recommended that the Ministry of Education be requested to post a psychologist in Region One until the mysterious sickness subsides.

“The health personnel that were here only stayed a few days and were unable to properly understand the situation. We need someone to stay longer,” he said.

De La Cruz reported that, of the 12 girls who took sick, nine live at the dormitories and the others reside in the community.

Three among them are new cases but the rest were previously afflicted.

To date, 76 students, between the ages of 11 and 18 years, have been stricken. All experienced unexplained trance-like situations, their eyes closed and arms flailing about.

The incidents first resurfaced in October 2008 after three years and returned in February 2009, affecting only girls.

UNSUCCESSFUL
Analyses done by health personnel were unsuccessful in diagnosing what manifested itself in no obvious genetic or other links nor resulted in long term physical consequences.

As a result, the cause remains the subject of speculation.

According to De La Cruz the latest four attacks occurred yesterday in the dormitories and the victims were 11-year-old Sherol Williams, 14-year-old Celina Harris, 16-year-old Shevie Thomas and 14-year-old Sabrina Rahaman.

Another cause for worry, he said, is that two girls who were transferred from Santa Ross are still suffering.

One of them, 15-year-old Mollyann La Rose took a transfer to North West Secondary School and currently lives away from her family in Mabaruma.

However, she was struck yesterday morning around 05:00 h, her mother, Mrs. Graciann La Rose related.

The student did not attend school yesterday but would probably go today, as she is feeling better, the woman said.

She lamented that she had sent her daughter away to put some distance between her and the sickness.

Another former patient, Amanda James, now attending Kwebanna Primary School which has a Primary Tops, had a similar experience last Friday.

In an invited comment, Minster within in the Ministry of Education, Dr Desrey Fox said the Ministry will be looking into the matter.
“We have to find an alternative way of dealing with this,” she said.