Hundreds of girls mysteriously fell ill

Unexplained symptoms in girls in northern Colombian town

08/28/2014

Mysterious cases in Colombia: Like the Swiss newspaper „20min.ch“ currently reported, in more than 200 girls in the northern town of El Carmen de Bolivar unexplained symptoms such as fainting and numbness have occurred. Now, the parents of the girls suspect that there may be a link with a recent cervical cancer vaccine.

Girls had all been vaccinated against HPV in recent months
More than 200 girls suffer in the small town of El Carmen de Bolivar in northern Colombia, according to the newspaper „20min.ch“ currently at an inexplicable illness. They report strong headaches and feelings of numbness, and they continue to lose consciousness, according to the authorities. So far, the cause of the symptoms could not be clarified, but as it turned out, all affected girls were vaccinated over the last few months „Gardasil“ The American manufacturer Merck vaccinated against HPV. According to the mayor of El Carmen de Bolivar, Francisco Vega, "the first cases of the mysterious illness had already occurred in May, and there have been more and more affected girls so that last weekend alone 120 girls with the same symptoms were hospitalized had to be ". However, the situation was not life-threatening in all cases, instead all the girls could have quickly returned home.

Sick by side effects of Gardasil?
But where do the symptoms come from? The girls' parents may be allergic to the vaccine because of the vaccines. But health experts are against it, assuring that Gardasil is safe. Veronica Trulin, Head of Communications at Merck in Latin America, also emphasized loudly „Globalnews.ca“ the safety of the vaccine: „All vaccines, including those sent to Colombia, meet all required quality and safety standards“.

Vaccine already used in 2.9 million women
Health Minister Alejandro Gaviria also warned loudly „Globalnews.ca“ against a media mass hysteria and criticized the concerns over the drug, which has now been used in 2.9 million women in Colombia. „On the one hand we have the weight of scientific knowledge and on the other the opinions and moral prejudices“ - bearing in mind that in Colombia, more than 3,000 women die each year from cervical cancer. The exact cause of the fainting spells and numbness should now be clarified with the help of blood tests, the results of which are expected in about a week. (No)