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Afghan Girls Become Sick In Suspected Gas Poisonings


Schoolgirls lie in a hospital with symptoms of gas poisoning in Charikar, Afghanistan May 2009.
Schoolgirls lie in a hospital with symptoms of gas poisoning in Charikar, Afghanistan May 2009.
Afghan authorities are investigating whether some 80 Afghan schoolgirls who have fallen ill during the past week were intentionally poisoned.

In the latest case, 13 girls fell ill today at a school in the provincial capital of Kunduz.

Humayun Khamoosh, head of Central Hospital in the Kunduz Province, said the girls were complaining of symptoms like headaches, vomiting, and shivering. After the initial treatment, he said all were in stable condition.

On April 24, 47 girls and three of their teachers were brought to city hospitals after they complained of feeling dizzy and nauseous.

About 20 other girl students were hospitalized with the same symptoms last week.

Similar suspected gas-poisoning attacks have been reported in other parts of Afghanistan in the past three years.

Compiled from agency reports

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