More teens claim Tourette-like symptoms

UNDATED -- A dozen teens in an upstate New York town have been experiencing symptoms similar to Tourette’s Syndrome. New test results have just been released, and there's an interesting new theory on why the cases could be spreading.

Hundreds of parents showed up to a community meeting at Leroy High School over the weekend. They want to know what school administrators are doing to make sure students are safe.

“It is not safe. Why is it? You need to prove to us that it is safe to put our children in this school. You are not doing your job. You are not doing your job at all,” said one woman.

Since last October, more than a dozen young women from the school say they've developed an illness that's similar to Tourette's Syndrome.

NBC News has talked to several of the teens. Some with symptoms so severe, they had to pull out of school.

I was always active and everybody was always happy to be around me, but I don't feel like myself anymore,” said Thera Sanchez, a Leroy High School student.

“I feel like people look at me and judge me,” said Chelsea Dumars, a Leroy High School student.

Some doctors who have examined the students say they have a psychiatric condition known as Conversion Disorder, formerly known as Mass Hysteria.

Now, other teens are posting video of themselves on Facebook, YouTube and other websites, claiming they have symptoms. A doctor who has examined one of the girls in Leroy believes social media could be an influence.

“If you are a person who is vulnerable in some way, because of your own stresses or anxieties, I think there is a potential for that to create further spread beyond the area that was initially involved,” said Doctor David Lichter, Professor of Neurology, University at Buffalo.

As the Leroy teens continue to get treatment, the school district insists there is no health risk to other students. On Saturday, administrators showed parents a new report by the New York State Health Department, which found "no infectious or environmental" cause of the illness.

“We did water testing, we did air testing. You just heard the report that those reports were negative,” said Leroy School District Superintendent Kim Cox.

Now, the school has hired an outside company to review all the previous testing.

Also pending, results of yet another investigation. This one by a team of environmental activist headed up by Erin Brockovich, the woman made famous by Julia Roberts’ Oscar-winning performance.

Investigators who work with Brockovich are studying soil samples to see if the illness could be related to a train derailment and chemical spill near

the school more than forty years ago. The environmental protection agency insists that accident is not related.

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