Le Roy and Corinth, NY, USA: Unusual outbreak of Tourette-like symptoms in at least 22 people

[Digger]

Re: Le Roy, NY, USA: Unusual outbreak of Tourette-like symptoms in 15 students at Junior-Senior High School

Re: Le Roy, NY, USA: Unusual outbreak of Tourette-like symptoms in 15 students at Junior-Senior High School

Location and Access of Additional Site Documents and details for LEHIGH VALLEY RAILROAD (EPA ID: NYD986950251) Site

To locate EPA detailed documentation on the site status, list of activities to date, and completed/open remediation projects, follow the link below.

Note: as per the EPA web page.

The data and content on this page were last updated on Monday, January 30, 2012.

I noticed the page was updated while navigating the site, so I assume the attached information has not changed or was not changed since or during my visit minutes ago.

This page has detailed information on the subject site and contacts for further documentation concerning this site via region 2 EPA library or via loan directly through other public libraries.

http://cumulis.epa.gov/supercpad/SiteProfiles/index.cfm?fuseaction=second.additional&id=0203481

Navigate the page linked above to find more detailed documents and information on this location.

Some notable documents of interest for this site are linked directly below.

Record of Decision (ROD) Lehigh Valley Railroad, LeRoy
http://www.epa.gov/superfund/sites/rods/fulltext/r0299107.pdf

NPL Narrative (Lehigh Valley Railroad, LeRoy)
http://www.epa.gov/superfund/sites/nplsnl/n0203481.pdf

Lehigh Valley Railroad, LeRoy - Site Fact Sheet (Note:This document is dated 1/30/2012 it is not clear if that is a revision date or date of release.)http://www.epa.gov/Region2/superfund/npl/0203481c.pdf

The three previous documents are attached in pdf format for future reference.

 

[Emily]

Re: Le Roy, NY, USA: Unusual outbreak of Tourette-like symptoms in 15 students at Junior-Senior High School

Re: Le Roy, NY, USA: Unusual outbreak of Tourette-like symptoms in 15 students at Junior-Senior High School

http://www.wivb.com/dpp/news/local/environmentalists-try-to-get-leroy-soil

Environmentalists try to get LeRoy soil
Updated: Monday, 30 Jan 2012, 5:16 PM EST
Published : Saturday, 28 Jan 2012, 6:25 PM EST
Dan LaDelfa
Rachel Kingston
Posted by: Kellie Mazur
LeRoy, N.Y. (WIVB)
[snip]
In 1999, when that testing was done, the chemical plume extended four miles to the east and southeast -- putting it right underneath the present-day location of LeRoy High School.

That, Brockovich contended, could explain some of the phenomena that parents report seeing at the school, particularly on the athletic fields.

"...Family has reported that there's an orange-yellow substance that almost kind of oozes from the ground... that is on the children's clothing, their shoes," Brockovich noted.

Here is a more recent article about the two girls from Corinth that passed through the town of LeRoy this summer. The father of one girl says he does not know how long they spent in Le Roy, nor what they did when they were there.

http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Girls-illness-still-a-puzzle-2830889.php

Girls' illness still a puzzle
Two Corinth girls are afflicted with symptoms similar to those in Genesee County
By DAYELIN ROMAN, Staff writer
Updated 05:08 p.m., Monday, January 30, 2012

Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Girls-illness-still-a-puzzle-2830889.php#ixzz1l2HuTZBb

Lori, the other affected girl on the travel softball team who got sick with neurological symptoms after visiting Le Roy, has several videos on Youtube.
She notes in the text on this one that an adult woman in her town has gotten TS now.

From: rodeocowgirl131 | Jan 27, 2012 | 4,027 views
This is the video my mom made before everyone knew. It is a real issue. Now there is a new individual in our town who started having tourettes, a very reputable adult female and is quite a shocker this is happening to her. I pray she heals as well.

Since the two Corinth girls are softball players I wish someone were looking into whether or not they visited the athletic fields in Le Roy last summer.

As far as we know the school did not have soil testing done, and they won't allow anyone other than parties they choose and pay to do testing.

http://www.nature.com/mp/journal/v7/n5/full/4000972a.html

Molecular Psychiatry (2002) 7, 437-445. doi:10.1038/sj.mp.4000972
Is Tourette's syndrome an autoimmune disease?
[snip]
Of special interest in this regard is the report by Kienzle and coworkers77 demonstrating focal blood-brain barrier disruption confined to the head of the caudate nucleus in two patients with Sydenham's chorea during the active phase of the disease by magnetic resonance imaging after intravenous administration of gadopentetate dimeglumine. Interestingly, when repeating the procedure in these patients after symptoms had greatly diminished, leakage of contrast was absent.

Ultimately, unraveling the genetic background of tic and related disorders will hopefully lead to a better understanding of environmental factors and more targeted treatment.

 

[Summerflower]

Re: Le Roy, NY, USA: Unusual outbreak of Tourette-like symptoms in 15 students at Junior-Senior High School

Re: Le Roy, NY, USA: Unusual outbreak of Tourette-like symptoms in 15 students at Junior-Senior High School

BBC News -

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-16800781

It says that symptoms also include fainting spells.
One of the girls now uses a wheelchair as she finds it hard to stand.

 

[Digger]

Re: Le Roy, NY, USA: Unusual outbreak of Tourette-like symptoms in 15 students at Junior-Senior High School

Re: Le Roy, NY, USA: Unusual outbreak of Tourette-like symptoms in 15 students at Junior-Senior High School

Doctor Issues Statement About Meeting With LeRoy Teens

LEROY, NY -- The doctor who visited with some of the teens from LeRoy experiencing tics and Tourette's-like symptoms issued a statement Monday.

Dr. Rosario Trifiletti, a child neurologist from New Jersey, met with some of the girls, after parents sought a second opinion following an initial disgnosis of conversion disorder.

Below is text of a statement Dr. Trifiletti sent to 2 On Your Side:

The WGRZ article including the full text of Dr. Trifiletti's statement can be found at the link below.
http://www.wgrz.com/news/article/153259/1/Doctor-Issues-Statement-About-Meeting-With-LeRoy-Teens

Welcome SummerFlower!

 

[Laidback Al]

Re: Le Roy, NY, USA: Unusual outbreak of Tourette-like symptoms in 15 students at Junior-Senior High School

Re: Le Roy, NY, USA: Unusual outbreak of Tourette-like symptoms in 15 students at Junior-Senior High School

Here is the key point from Dr. Trifiletti's statement from the link posted above by Digger -

The results of my tests will take 1-2 weeks to return. I will again brief the media after results return and are reviewed with the patients as to my conclusions, but will have no further comment before that time.

I have no comment on the potential role of any environmental neurotoxins and did no testing relative to that possibility.

 

[Digger]

Re: Le Roy, NY, USA: Unusual outbreak of Tourette-like symptoms in 15 students at Junior-Senior High School

Re: Le Roy, NY, USA: Unusual outbreak of Tourette-like symptoms in 15 students at Junior-Senior High School

EPA Doing Testing In LeRoy In Response To Community Concerns!
Reported by: Patrice Walsh web Article Published: 4:51 pm Updated: 6:40 pm

LeRoy, N.Y. - On the very day two environmental groups called for more testing in LeRoy, we learned the EPA is testing drums of soil on the site of a 1970's train derailment.

The drums contain rocks and soil taken during groundwater testing at the derailment site. It is a Superfund Clean-up site and is located off of Gulf Road, about four miles from the high school.

EPA Spokeswoman Mary Mears told us she doubts the material is hazardous but says the EPA agreed to the testing "in response to community concerns."

The EPA says the results of tests should be back sometime late next week.

The WHEC video states the following:

-We are sampling the drums in response to community concerns. We hope to get the results back late next week. -Mary Mears EPA Spokeswoman

-The Empire State Consumer Association, based in Rochester, and a Washington Group called for more testing.
* They want the DEC & EPA to test old gas wells on school proerty
* The want more information about previous testing(test results)
* Why Vaccines and infections were ruled out as possible causes

Parents fear that if something isn't done there could be more illnesses.

Read More: http://www.13wham.com/news/local/story/leroy-epa-testing/gAQhnz4H6kuAo7gq4bXYOg.cspx?autoplay=1


NOTE: Please see post #87 below. The information in the linked article in this post (#86) is in conflict with the linked article in post #87 below.

 

[Digger]

Re: Le Roy, NY, USA: Unusual outbreak of Tourette-like symptoms in 15 students at Junior-Senior High School

Re: Le Roy, NY, USA: Unusual outbreak of Tourette-like symptoms in 15 students at Junior-Senior High School

EPA: 1970 train derailment not connected to student mystery illness
Web article Posted at: 01/31/2012 11:04 PM | Updated at: 01/31/2012 11:30 PM
By: Lynette Adams | WHEC.com

People in the town of LeRoy are wondering if something that happened 40 years ago could have anything to do with what's happening now.

Environmental crusader Erin Brockovich first brought it up over the weekend. Her team was in LeRoy searching for the cause of an illness affecting at least 15 high school students and one adult.

40 years ago, there was a train derailment that spilled toxic chemicals in LeRoy.

The derailment in 1970 dumped a ton of cyanide crystals and thousands of gallons of the chemical commonly known as "TCE". This morning, environmental specialists surveyed the land and numerous barrels that have disintegrated and are leaking contaminated soil and water.

Beth Miller is the parents of one of the teens who's developed an illness that causes vocal outbursts and tics. She saw all the testing first-hand today.

The EPA, which is heading the clean-up in LeRoy, claims there is no connection, but Miller and others don't buy it.

An EPA spokesperson says their presence is just for routine maintenance. The site of the derailment is 4 miles away from the high school. Local residents are hungry for answers since 15 high schoolers developed symptoms that mimic Tourette's syndrome.

The EPA crews will be in town for the remainder of the week. There's no word on what, if anything, we'll learn about their tests. Brockovich says it's unlikely TCE is the cause of the tics, but says that residents should be aware the spill has not been adequately addressed.

"There's quite a few students sick right now and whether it be from that or from something else, we need to find out what's causing it before more students are affected," says Miller.

Read More: http://www.whec.com/news/stories/S2477177.shtml?cat=565

Obviously we have two conflicting stories here comparing this to the WHAM article referenced in the previous post above. It appears the WHAM article in post #86 may contain the latest updated information on the EPA involvement but the article update times would indicate otherwise.

 

[Digger]

Re: Le Roy, NY, USA: Unusual outbreak of Tourette-like symptoms in 15 students at Junior-Senior High School

Re: Le Roy, NY, USA: Unusual outbreak of Tourette-like symptoms in 15 students at Junior-Senior High School

Hydrogeologic and Geospatial Data for the Assessment of Focused Recharge to the Carbonate-Rock Aquifer in Genesee County, New York

According to this Geolocial Survey Document, the NYSDOH and the Genesee County Health Department were not only concerned about chemical contamination in aquifers in this area, but also E. coli and nitrate contamination from liquid manure applications that had caused aquifer contamination several times. Per this 2010 USGS document(linked below), the concern for contamination that had occurred was as recent as the Spring of 2010.

This is a very enlightning document that contains geological maps of the area surrounding LeRoy details the rock formations, depths of soils and elevations. It does a very great job of describing the reasons for the problem of groundwater and soil contamination in this and other regions of the county. It also discusses the seasonal cycles of surface waters and how they effect the contamination due to surface runoffs entering low areas and sinkholes. This process then creating a situation where surface contamination can rapidly spread for great distances through underground features in the area.

Specifically, I note page 7 section "Introduction", paragraph #1 below.

New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) and the Genesee County Health Department have become increasingly concerned about chemical and bacteriological contamination in carbonate-rock aquifers. Fecal coliform bacteria, including Escherichia coli (E. coli), and nitrate contamination of groundwater from surface application of liquid manure has occurred several times over the past few years in Genesee County—most recently in early spring of 2010.

Carbonate-rock aquifers in western and central New York also have been contaminated by septic waste and improper chemical disposal and spills, such as the trichloroethylene (TCE) spill in eastern Genesee County (USEPA-http://www.epa.gov/region02/superfund/npl/0203481c.pdf, accessed March 2009).

The entire USGS document can be found in the link below.
http://pubs.usgs.gov/sim/3132/pdf/sim3132.pdf

 

[Digger]

Re: Le Roy, NY, USA: Unusual outbreak of Tourette-like symptoms in 15 students at Junior-Senior High School

Re: Le Roy, NY, USA: Unusual outbreak of Tourette-like symptoms in 15 students at Junior-Senior High School

Follow up: information from the EPA and DEC on situations in Le Roy

The link below has some more specific statements from the EPA on the most recent activities at the Lehigh Railroad site and their plan to move the barrels to a new location.

Per the EPA answers to submitted questions,

(EPA Replying to Batavian News Reporter's Inquiry)
[EPA]-First, I suggest you take a look at a fact sheet we updated just yesterday: http://www.epa.gov/Region2/superfund/npl/0203481c.pdf

Next, here's supplemental info:

Q: Drums (editor's note: part of the question was why are the barrels labeled "Hazardous Material" if they only contain dirt and rock that isn't hazardous.)

There are drums on the Lehigh Valley Derailment Superfund site. In terms of the drums, they contain dirt and rock from when wells were dug to monitor groundwater at the site both under NYS DEC's investigation and more recently under EPA's. As part of the ongoing cleanup, EPA is taking steps to get these drums sampled and removed from the site as soon as possible.

There is a contractor for the potentially responsible party. (PRP means the entity liable for paying for the cleanup of a Superfund Site.) A subcontractor is currently handling the drum consolidation and the transportation to a licensed facility under EPA oversight."

Read more of the EPA Q & A here: http://thebatavian.com/

 

[Emily]

Re: Le Roy, NY, USA: Unusual outbreak of Tourette-like symptoms in 15 students at Junior-Senior High School

Re: Le Roy, NY, USA: Unusual outbreak of Tourette-like symptoms in 15 students at Junior-Senior High School

BBC News -

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-16800781

It says that symptoms also include fainting spells.
One of the girls now uses a wheelchair as she finds it hard to stand.

Welcome, Summerflower.

The symptoms are so complex and changing. I'm glad I don't have to tell the difference between a psychogenic illness and this:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3235554/?tool=pubmed

Brain. 2011 December; 134(12): 3477–3489.
Published online 2011 September 19.
Copyright © The Author (2011). Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Guarantors of Brain.
Complex movement disorders at disease onset in childhood narcolepsy with cataplexy

That's very interesting research, Digger. Apparently someone who had good knowledge of how contaminants distribute could take a lot of samples and yet avoid the contamination. There's some info here about that:
http://chevrontoxico.com/about/historic-trial/chevrons-scientific-fraud.html

Here is more on the school situation and that mess at the Superfund site the EPA is testing.
http://thebatavian.com/howard-owens/specialist-questions-scientific-validity-le-roy-districts-environmental-reports/30187

Specialist questions scientific validity of Le Roy district's environmental reports
Submitted by Howard Owens on January 28, 2012 - 11:16pm

http://thebatavian.com/howard-owens/le-roy-high-school-property-rumors-and-research/30236

Rumor: The school district turned down an offer of free property for a new school and purchased the current property from the brother of a school board member. Mostly true.

I was wondering why the EPA can't sample the Le Roy school property, especially those athletic fields? I ran across this local article from a few years ago about a TCE case they were investigating and they might be able to do so. (To be clear, I think they should test for more than TCE. I would hope for pesticide and heavy metal testing, too, at the very least.)

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/Vapors-from-underground-plume-could-pollute-Fort-1233754.php

Vapors from underground plume could pollute Fort Lewis housing
Army balks at toxic-gas test despite EPA warnings
By ANDREW SCHNEIDER, P-I SENIOR CORRESPONDENT
Published 10:00 p.m., Monday, April 9, 2007
[snip]
If Fort Lewis were a civilian housing complex with the same possible release of toxic vapors and a landlord who refused to test to see if tenants were at risk, the EPA could do more. The agency could invoke its emergency provisions, which would permit the agency do the testing itself "to protect the public health," and then take the landlord to court to recoup the money it spent...

 

[Summerflower]

Re: Le Roy, NY, USA: Unusual outbreak of Tourette-like symptoms in 15 students at Junior-Senior High School

Re: Le Roy, NY, USA: Unusual outbreak of Tourette-like symptoms in 15 students at Junior-Senior High School

Read Superintendent Kim Cox's letter to the community.

http://www.wgrz.com/news/article/15...intendent-Speaks-Out-About-Mysterious-Illness


Letter to the Community

February 1, 2012

Over the past few days, activities that have occurred in our community with respect to environmental testing by a representative who claimed to be working on behalf of Erin Brockovitch have taken center stage. This has been a distraction and taken us away from our mission to return normalcy to our school District, which every medical professional says is critical for the health and well-being of all students in our schools. As we have communicated, we have been working closely for months with numerous medical professionals, the New York State Department of Health, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, and the United States Environmental Protection Agency. All of these agencies and professionals from these agencies have assured us that our school is safe. There is no evidence of an environmental or infectious cause. Environmental causes would not discriminate. We would see a wide range of people affected.

The community should take assurance that the Department of Health concluded extensive reviews of both the epidemiology and the clinical evaluations and found no evidence of environmental or infection as the cause of the students? illness. Again, an environmental exposure would affect many people. The school was tested for total Volatile Organic Compounds by an independent firm. The school is served by the Monroe County Water Authority. This system is monitored on a regular basis. In addition, we have just been informed that water samples taken from the inside of the school as an additional precaution have been tested and determined to be safe. The treating physicians at the Dent Institute ruled out PANDAS (Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders associated with Streptococcal infections), a condition that sometimes causes this behavior. The Gardasil vaccine was ruled out because many of the girls did not receive the vaccine.

In addition, to help assist the district with assessing all aspects of this situation, we hired our own independent environmental expert to conduct a review of the findings and offer alternative approaches if needed. This was done not because we questioned the state medical professionals or federal agencies, but to help reassure the community. There are also some individuals who are attempting to connect the 1970 Lehigh Valley Railroad train derailment that spilled Trichloroethene (TCE) to the school. In fact, the TCE plume has been shown as moving in the opposite direction of the school, some three miles away.

The individual who came onto school property this past Saturday did not identify himself, did not show his credentials, and did not contact us ahead of time to offer assistance or coordinate with our efforts. Nor did this individual demonstrate that the testing approach was in accordance with scientific methods. It was clearly staged as a publicity stunt with members of local and national media invited to participate. We know this because the media arrived well in advance of this individual. In fact, one member of the media entered the school without permission and interrupted the preparations for an on-site program. Of course they were asked to leave. I am charged with keeping this entire school, staff, students and grounds safe. Not knowing this individual?s intention, I had no idea if he was there to get something or leave something.

Our administration and staff are exceptional and have been diligently working under stressful situations to try to maintain a supportive educational environment. This has been extremely challenging given the irresponsible tactics and programming by the national media. Speculation and reporting of erroneous information by those who have none of the information that has been compiled over months of study by leading professionals is confusing our community. It is also heightening the level of anxiety of all our students and especially jeopardizing the recovery of those affected students, many who had recovered or been showing signs of improvement. These kids want to get better. As a community, we need to support each other and these students by ensuring our school environment is nurturing and safe. I want to thank the members of our local media who have been engaging in responsible reporting.

I know we all want what is best for the children. We are all frustrated, tired and saddened by this turn of events as it is affecting the entire community.*I am confident we will work through it, but I do believe it will take some time. My role as Superintendent of this District is to ensure I am providing the best possible educational environment conducive to learning and allowing our children to excel to the best of their ability. I am not an environmental scientist or medical professional, and therefore, cannot always be the spokesperson for highly technical and medical explanations nor answer questions that require in-depth technical knowledge. Questions of this nature must be addressed to those professionals and answered by these professionals. I have been trying to increase the direct communication from these agencies as well as putting forth new information as it is received. I know it is frustrating not to have definitive answers or wait for test findings. I want to assure you that all technical professionals involved are doing everything they can to expedite the process and communicate any new information as it is received.

I know this has been an emotionally hard situation and we all hope for the speedy recovery of our students. Please know we welcome your questions and suggestions, and take all under consideration. We will continue to communicate with you as soon as we have new information to share.

Kim M. Cox
Superintendent of Schools

 

[Emily]

Re: Le Roy, NY, USA: Unusual outbreak of Tourette-like symptoms in 15 students at Junior-Senior High School

Re: Le Roy, NY, USA: Unusual outbreak of Tourette-like symptoms in 15 students at Junior-Senior High School

Thank you for sharing the school's perspective, Summerflower.

I trust that the school is diligent in assuring that attending the school and drinking the water is safe. The issue of what happened last fall and summer is still unclear to me, particularly regarding the athletic fields.

There is no evidence of an environmental or infectious cause.

Even the best forensic toxicology work might not uncover environmental illness triggers since they might no longer be present in the environment when testing is done, and the synergistic effects of chemicals, natural toxins, and infection are not well researched and probably never will be.

Environmental causes would not discriminate. We would see a wide range of people affected.

Have they looked at the specific exposures of the affected group? Were they exposed to some environments more than unaffected groups? (Such as the the athletic fields? (Tics and Toxins: Leroy Put Student Playing Fields on FEMA Flood Hazard Land )

Even within an exposed group, vulnerability to toxins and illnesses varies with age, sex and individual genetics and risk factors.

I would like to see the athletic fields rigorously tested by truly independent professionals for contaminants at least to the point of assuring current and future safety of students.

The issue of forensic testing is another thing entirely.

 

[Digger]

Re: Le Roy, NY, USA: Unusual outbreak of Tourette-like symptoms in 15 students at Junior-Senior High School

Re: Le Roy, NY, USA: Unusual outbreak of Tourette-like symptoms in 15 students at Junior-Senior High School

Thank you for sharing the school's perspective, Summerflower.

I trust that the school is diligent in assuring that attending the school and drinking the water is safe. The issue of what happened last fall and summer is still unclear to me, particularly regarding the athletic fields.


Even the best forensic toxicology work might not uncover environmental illness triggers since they might no longer be present in the environment when testing is done, and the synergistic effects of chemicals, natural toxins, and infection are not well researched and probably never will be.


Have they looked at the specific exposures of the affected group? Were they exposed to some environments more than unaffected groups? (Such as the the athletic fields? (Tics and Toxins: Leroy Put Student Playing Fields on FEMA Flood Hazard Land )

Even within an exposed group, vulnerability to toxins and illnesses varies with age, sex and individual genetics and risk factors.

I would like to see the athletic fields rigorously tested by truly independent professionals for contaminants at least to the point of assuring current and future safety of students.

The issue of forensic testing is another thing entirely.

Emily, I couldn't have said it better and concur with the statements from Post #92.

 

[Digger]

Re: Le Roy, NY, USA: Unusual outbreak of Tourette-like symptoms in 15 students at Junior-Senior High School

Re: Le Roy, NY, USA: Unusual outbreak of Tourette-like symptoms in 15 students at Junior-Senior High School

Hawley offers view of Le Roy mystery illnesses

Assemblyman Steve Hawley, R-Batavia, is working with state and local officials to diligently address the health issues facing Western New Yorkers.

In the wake of the disturbing developments regarding Tourette's-like symptoms displayed by 12 students attending LeRoy Junior-Senior High School, the assemblyman is doubling down on his efforts to protect the health of the entire Western New York community.

"The strength of our community relies on the health, safety and happiness of Western New Yorkers, and I am committed to making sure that no stone is left unturned in the quest to protect those needs," Hawley said. "By working with health and environmental officials at the federal, state and local levels, I am pursuing every channel to ensure that we are doing everything in our power to prevent threats to the community's health."

Read More: http://thedailynewsonline.com/news/article_a220b0f7-aedc-574c-8f41-3bef6644f1b0.html

It appears this issue has gained a political feature and momentum as well.

 

[sharon sanders]

Re: Le Roy, NY, USA: Unusual outbreak of Tourette-like symptoms in 15 students at Junior-Senior High School

Re: Le Roy, NY, USA: Unusual outbreak of Tourette-like symptoms in 15 students at Junior-Senior High School

Welcome Summerflower and thank you to everyone who is working on this problem.

Our best wishes to the ill and their families and friends - and to the entire community.

This is a very difficult problem.

What has happened here?

Only a very methodical and thorough approach can adequately find the solution.

It is clear that the public health entities and school officials have been working very hard to address this problem.

It seems that a PTA committee dedicated to this issue might help.

This committee could act as a conduit between the school and all interested parties, with the guidance of the school administration. The first duty of all is the safety and protection of the students and the school officials must have the authority to provide this.

The PTA could guide various officials and independent inspectors throughout the facility to test and/or take samples, make progress reports, attend various meetings, and perform other functions as it sees fit.

This is not an opportunity for media "glory seekers". Exploitation of this event is disgusting.

Again, thanks to everyone who has posted on this thread.

 

[Emily]

Re: Le Roy, NY, USA: Unusual outbreak of Tourette-like symptoms in 15 students at Junior-Senior High School

Re: Le Roy, NY, USA: Unusual outbreak of Tourette-like symptoms in 15 students at Junior-Senior High School

http://dailynightly.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/02/02/10302534-mystery-teen-illness-grows-in-upstate-ny-more-cases-reported?chromedomain=usnews

By Amy Robach, Kevin Monahan and Christina Caron
NBC News
Mystery teen illness grows in upstate NY, more cases reported

LeROY, N.Y. -- The mystery illness now producing Tourette?s-like symptoms in a more than a dozen girls from upstate New York is also affecting a 36-year-old who is experiencing the same tics as the teens.

Nurse practitioner Marge Fitzsimmons, who has spent her whole life in LeRoy, N.Y., lives just a few miles from the school the teens attend....

Video at link. Ms. Fitzsimmons symptoms at times prevented her from speaking. She became ill in October.

 

[sharon sanders]

Re: Le Roy, NY, USA: Unusual outbreak of Tourette-like symptoms in 15 students at Junior-Senior High School

Re: Le Roy, NY, USA: Unusual outbreak of Tourette-like symptoms in 15 students at Junior-Senior High School

Thanks Emily. The news announcer mentions that this illness is "spreading" but according to news reports on this thread it appears the onset of the LeRoy students and Ms. Fitzsimmons was October 2011.

Are there any documented cases since then?

 

[Digger]

Re: Le Roy, NY, USA: Unusual outbreak of Tourette-like symptoms in 15 students at Junior-Senior High School

Re: Le Roy, NY, USA: Unusual outbreak of Tourette-like symptoms in 15 students at Junior-Senior High School

Could an infection be behind mysterious Tourette's-like syndrome affecting teenagers? Link questioned between 'mass hysteria and outbreak of sores'

Frantic parents of the now 15 teens who have been showcasing worrying Tourette-like symptoms are looking for answers as to what exactly is making their children sick.
Over the weekend, lawyer Erin Brockivich hypothesized that environmental toxins may be to blame, though officials have reportedly stonewalled her up to this point.
Researchers are now looking into a new explanation – that infections caused by bacteria or viruses can cause also infect the brain, leading to onsets of Tourette’s and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

That sounds very interesting...

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...ss-hysteria-outbreak-sores.html#ixzz1lICPYNnq

 

[alert]

Re: Le Roy, NY, USA: Unusual outbreak of Tourette-like symptoms in 15 students at Junior-Senior High School

Re: Le Roy, NY, USA: Unusual outbreak of Tourette-like symptoms in 15 students at Junior-Senior High School

Thanks Emily. The news announcer mentions that this illness is "spreading" but according to news reports on this thread it appears the onset of the LeRoy students and Ms. Fitzsimmons was October 2011.

Are there any documented cases since then?

The total number of affected indiviuals I can make out in this thread stands at 18: the 15 students in LeRoy (14 female, 1 male), Ms. Fitzsimmons in Leroy, and two teenage girls in Corinth (onset April 2011 and October/November 2011). It is possible that the adult female in post #82 may be Ms. Fitzsimmons, or might be a 19th case. It mentions that Ms. Fitzsimmons is a nurse practitioner; do we have any evidence that she treated any of the teens (which would strongly suggest contagion)?

I think you are right that the latest onset of any of the first 18 cases seems to be prior to November 1, 2011, so it remains unclear whether the illness is actually spreading, or whether the increase in cases reported is due to better awareness. Obviously, there is a bit of a delay in reporting these cases.

There seem to be several directions of investigation ongoing (infection, toxic exposure, autoimmune, etc.) and it remains unclear which one will prove more fruitful. The above article trying to link this illness to "Morgellons" disease is no more helpful to the investigation than the diagnosis of "mass hysteria" was.

 

[Digger]

Re: Le Roy, NY, USA: Unusual outbreak of Tourette-like symptoms in 15 students at Junior-Senior High School

Re: Le Roy, NY, USA: Unusual outbreak of Tourette-like symptoms in 15 students at Junior-Senior High School

Indiana Case Information - Band Trip Itinerary to New York City 3/20/2011-3/25/2011


The attached PDF file contains a photo image of the itinerary of the aforementioned trip to New York City that was taken by the High School band on 3/20/2011. One of the Indiana cases (my nephew mentioned on this thread previously) was on this trip which included visits to the following locations:

3/21/11-American Museum of Natural History, Empire State Building, Dinner at a Times Square Seafood restaurant

3/22/11-Introductory Tour of Manhattan (world trade center site), dinner at another seafood restaurant, Broadway show at Gershwin Theatre

3/23/11-Metropolitan Museum of Art, NBC Studios, Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum, Planet Hollywood, Broadway show Minskoff Theatre

3/24/11-Liberty State Park, NJ ferry, Ferry to Ellis Island and then to Statue of Liberty, ferry to Battery Park, Shopping on 5th avenue - (various stores see attached), Ripley?s Believe it or Not Times Square, dinner at Times Square or Rockefeller Center(choice), Depart New York

3/25/11-Arrive back at school in Indiana around 7:00am.

NOTE:Weeks prior to his Sudden Onset Neurological Disorder on September 7, 2011, my nephew had told me about hitting his head on the window or interior of the bus during some horseplay with another friend while on this trip. He did pass out briefly but appeared fine following the bump.-This "bump on the head" may actually be the feature of this trip that is an important clue to his illness.-Later on we contacted another band member and verified this event occurred. As stated, my nephew cannot (now) remember any of this trip.


Some Notes:
Previously it was stated that both my nephew and the other case that is also in the high school band was on this trip. We are trying to verify that. Unfortunately, my nephew does not remember(due to this illness) if she was or not. She(the other case) can't remember (due to this illness) either. So I will have to speak to her mother to verify that.

Also, there was NO stop at Niagara Falls with this trip. Therefore, these students were NOT in the locality of LeRoy. They would have travelled in the mid to northern part of Pennsylvania along I-80 to and from New York City. I contemplated even bothering to post this after reviewing it.

I doubt it is of relevance to the other New York cases. Although if there were some pathology to an infectious cause, or other environmental cause with a latency in onset, this may be of value in the future.