Poisonings' at Afghan girls' schools likely mass hysteria - not Taliban, says report Thousands of girls have been taken ill at Afghan schools in recent years, in incidents of mass fainting and vomiting. By Ben Farmer 04 July 2012 • 4:25pm A spate of apparent poisonings at girls' schools across Afghanistan is probably outbreaks of mass hysteria rather than a Taliban plot, according to the most comprehensive study yet of the phenomenon. The World Health Organisation (WHO) working with the Afghan government has investigated attacks for more than three years but found "no conclusive evidence of deliberate poisoning". Thousands of girls have been taken ill at schools in that time, in incidents of mass fainting and vomiting. Pressure has mounted on Hamid Karzai's government to stop the apparent attacks as their frequency has increased in recent months. Poisonings' at Afghan girls' schools likely mass hysteria - not Taliban, says report ———————————————————- Farmer, Ben (The Telegraph, 04 July 2012): "Poisonings' at Afghan girls' schools likely mass hysteria - not Taliban, says report". Available (1401/12/11) online at: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/afghanistan/9376348/Poisonings-at-Afghan-girls-schools-likely-mass-hysteria-not-Taliban-says-report.html