Unlucky for some

Up to 21 million Americans suffer from paraskavidekatriaphobia, the fear of Friday the 13th, according to Donald Dossey, a behavioural scientist, AP reports from Marcellus, New York. Symptoms range from mild anxiety and a nagging sense of doom to full-blown panic. It is estimated that dollars 750m will be lost today by US businesses because people refuse to shop, travel or take risks on Friday the 13th. 'Some will not even get out of bed or leave their homes,' said Dr Dossey, of the Los Angeles Phobia Institute.