Strange illness scare forces school to close

Lunzu Secondary School in Blantyre has prematurely closed after some students are said to have been attacked by a strange illness.

In a letter addressed to parents, school head teacher Collins Champiti said the school has been closed from Tuesday following the condition which is mostly attacking female students.

Confirming the development, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MoEST) spokesperson Lindiwe Chide said her office received communication on Tuesday from the office of the Blantyre Rural District Education Manager indicating that the students were showing signs of hysteria; hence, the decision for temporary closure.

She said: “The students were reportedly complaining of headache, fever, continuous shivering and general body pains. They were taken to the hospital, but the diagnosis was negative; hence, the decision to send them home pending intervention on the matter.”

One of the students we spoke to said she witnessed many of her colleagues becoming weak and sickly, a situation which raised panic at the school.

A teacher at the school, who did not want to be named, said over 50 students have been affected.

“It started early this month. We tried to engage the police and medical personnel for counselling and it kept spreading.  They were admitted to Mlambe Mission Hospital but no disease was diagnosed,” he said.

The school authorities are now planning to hold inter-domination prayers when the students return this Sunday.