Tanganyika Laughter Epidemic

The Tanganyika Laughter Epidemic of 1962 is one of the best-documented cases of mass psychogenic illness—uncontrollable laughter that spread through schools and villages, affecting over 1,000 people.

The Outbreak

According to documented records:

On January 30, 1962:

• Three girls began laughing at a mission school in Kashasha
• The laughter spread to 95 of 159 students
• It could not be controlled
• The school was forced to close on March 18

The Spread

After the school closed:

• Affected students went home to various villages
• The laughter spread to their communities
• Other schools became affected
• The epidemic lasted 18 months
• Over 1,000 people were affected

The Symptoms

Those affected experienced:

• Uncontrollable laughter lasting hours to weeks
• Crying episodes
• Screaming
• Restlessness
• Random running
• Some violent episodes
• No long-term damage

Who Was Affected

The pattern was distinctive:

• Almost exclusively young people
• Mostly female students
• Ages 12-18
• Teachers and adults were generally not affected
• It spread along social connections

Schools Closed

The epidemic forced:

• 14 schools to close
• Over 1,000 students affected
• Some schools closed multiple times
• Normal education was impossible

Medical Findings

Doctors investigating found:

• No evidence of disease
• No toxic cause
• Symptoms were genuine but psychological
• Patients recovered without treatment
• It was mass psychogenic illness

Why It Happened

Researchers believe:

• The newly independent Tanganyika was undergoing rapid change
• Young people faced uncertain futures
• Strict boarding school environment created stress
• The laughter was an unconscious stress response
• Cultural factors made it spread

Mass Psychogenic Illness

The epidemic demonstrates:

• Physical symptoms can arise from psychological causes
• Stress can manifest as contagious behavior
• Young people in confined settings are vulnerable
• Belief in symptoms can cause symptoms

The End

The epidemic:

• Subsided after 18 months
• Left no lasting effects
• Schools eventually reopened
• No one died
• It became a famous case study

Modern Relevance

The case is studied because:

• It’s well-documented
• It shows how stress manifests physically
• It explains similar outbreaks
• Mass psychogenic illness still occurs

Sources

• Tanganyika laughter epidemic - Wikipedia