World Briefing
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Doctors are investigating whether dozens of girls were poisoned at a high school in northern Afghanistan after 61 students were taken to the hospital because of sudden illness, officials said.
Dr. Khalil Farangi said the 61 girls and one teacher from a school in Parwan, one province north of Kabul, complained of irritability, weeping and confusion. Several girls also passed out.
Officials sent blood samples to Kabul and to the U.S. military base in Bagram for tests.
The mass hospitalization came about two weeks after a similar incident in Parwan, where dozens of girls were hospitalized after being sickened by what Afghan officials said were strong noxious fumes or a possible poison gas cloud.
Conservative Afghans oppose education for girls, who were not allowed to attend school under Taliban rule.
The Hora Jalaly high school is attended by both girls and boys. The girls attend class in the morning.
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