This archive report was first published on 29 July 2019.
Located near the border with the Czech Republic, Miejsce Odrza?skie, a village in southern Poland, has been making headlines for its unusual demographic trend. According to local residents, the village has not seen a male birth in the last nine years, with the youngest male resident being 12 years old.
Mayor Rajmund Frischko recently confirmed this anomaly, stating that after reviewing historical records and birth certificates, he found that rare male births are not a recent phenomenon, but rather a long-standing issue in the village.
"We looked into it further, reviewing birth certificates," Frishko said. "I think that what the older residents say is confirmed. Girls are constantly born and the birth of boys is rare. Explaining this puzzle will not be easy."
Locals, including Tomasz Golasz, head of the volunteer fire brigade, have expressed their desire to have a son, but the chances of success seem slim. Golasz, who has two daughters, said, "It has been going on for several decades. I came to the village, took a local girl for my wife and we had two daughters. I would like to have a son but it’s probably unrealistic. My neighbour also tried and has two daughters. I don’t think women give birth to boys here."
Prof Rafa? P?oski, Head of the Department of Medical Genetics at the Medical University of Warsaw, has suggested that the village's history and environmental conditions may hold the key to understanding this phenomenon. He recommended checking historical records, birth statistics, and conducting interviews with parents and children to find an answer.
Until an explanation is found, Mayor Frischko has pledged to reward the parents of the first boy to be born in Miejsce Odrza?skie, promising a "gift will be attractive".
