Separating The Group Helps End Mass Hysteria

Outbreaks Can Be Costly Before They End

Emergency Services And Health Agencies Carry Heavy Financial Burdens

A 1999 Outbreak In Belgian Schools Led To A Coca Cola Recall

It Cost The Company An Estimated 250 Million Dollars

Calming Outbreak Anxiety Requires Prompt Recognition And Investigation

Mass Hysteria Once Followed Vaccinations At School In Jordan

THIS NEWSLETTER IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. NOTHING IN THIS CONTENT CONSTITUTES MEDICAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL, OR PROFESSIONAL ADVICE. ALWAYS CONSULT A QUALIFIED HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL BEFORE MAKING ANY HEALTH RELATED DECISIONS.

OKAY BACK FROM THE VACCINE CLINIC 💉

In September 1998 Students In Jordan Were Vaccinated At School

The Vaccine Was Against Tetanus And Diphtheria

More Than 800 Young People Believed It Had Made Them Sick

122 Of Them Were Admitted To Hospital

For The Vast Majority The Vaccine Was Not The Cause

Their Symptoms Arose From Mass Psychogenic Illness

Researchers From Jordan's Health Ministry Reported On It

They Described Three Groups That Played A Role In Its Escalation

One Was The Media

Another Was The Children's Parents

The Third Was The Medical Profession

At First Their Role Seemed Unusual And Even Unique To Jordan

Its Lessons May Help Other Vaccination Programs Handle A Crisis

In LeRoy New York Constant Media Attention Was Also Suspected

The Authors Believed It Kept That Outbreak Going

It Caused Distrust Of The Doctors Helping The Patients

Doctors Noted Anecdotally That Symptoms Worsened When Coverage Rose

Early Actions By The State Health Department Also Added To Public Fear

The Standard Advice Has Not Changed Since The Middle Ages

It Was Once Used To Quell Outbreaks In European Nunneries

The Advice Is To Offer Reassurance

Then Separate Those Who Are Affected

Keep Them Out Of School Until The Symptoms Disappear

Social Media May Make That Last Step Harder Today

It Is Often Advised To Close The Affected Building Until Tests Clear

That Helps Control The Outbreak By Reducing Anxiety

It Also Disperses The Group For A While

Treatment Means Finding And Reducing The Source Of Stress

For Mass Anxiety Hysteria Separating The Affected Group Is Effective

That Form Has A Good Prognosis

A Botswana School Hit By An Outbreak Temporarily Closed

It Reopened About Eleven Days Later

In LeRoy Removing A Patient From School For A Long Period Helped

The Tics Became Less Frequent And Less Severe

Patients Also Improved With Home Learning And Less Coverage

Those Observations Were Anecdotal

When Coverage Finally Subsided Every Patient's Symptoms Resolved

In Botswana Changing The School Environment Was The Key Measure

That Meant Improving Safety And Security At The Boarding Facilities

Students Also Received Ongoing Psychosocial Evaluation And Support

Psychosocial Care Addresses Both Mental Health And Social Needs

The Authors Called These Measures Key To Preventing Future Outbreaks

Researchers Have Also Measured Recovery Over Time

A German Clinic Followed Patients Whose Tics Spread Online

It Interviewed 30 Of Them About Two Years Later On Average

63 Percent Reported That Their Symptoms Had Improved

Another 23 Percent Reported Complete Remission

None Had Worse Symptoms

Patients Seen Sooner After Onset Tended To Improve More

11 Patients Said Knowing The Correct Diagnosis Helped

Mass Hysteria Is Now Diagnosed By Its Features Not By Exclusion

Understanding Its History Will Help Doctors Recognize Outbreaks Faster

It Will Also Help Them Treat Outbreaks Sooner

No One Is Immune To Mass Hysteria

The People Affected Cannot Control Their Symptoms