August 04, 2008	Monday	Sha'aban 1 429

DHAKA: At least 22 students have been hospitalised in Bangladesh after a mystery illness that health experts describe as “mass hysteria” struck another school, a health official said on Sunday.

The students — all aged between 12 and 14 — lost consciousness one after another as soon as one of their fellow pupils passed out at a school in western Bangladesh on Saturday, district health chief Salauddin Khan said.

“It struck them like a wave. First a student lost consciousness in one class. Soon enough students of other classes were passing out, all complaining of acute headache and vertigo,” he said.

At least 22 of those affected were hospitalised in the district town hospital, he said, adding doctors were counselling the students and their parents.

The school is the thirteenth in western Jessore district to be hit by mass hysteria in the past month. At least 200 students in the area have needed hospital treatment and counselling.—AFP