LAS VEGAS—only hours before the widely anticipated first debate of the Democratic primary race, four of the five candidates have mysteriously developed identical symptoms, forcing them to withdraw from the debate.

According to Dr. David Williams, head of the Las Vegas Medical and Sports Book Association, Bernie Sanders, Lincoln Chafee, Martin O’Malley, and Jim Webb all woke up in the middle of the night with rapid heart rates, dry skin, enlarged pupils, and disorientation, leaving their campaigns no choice but to cancel their planned appearances tonight.

“We haven’t diagnosed the exact problem yet,” said Williams. “The only thing that makes sense is some kind of mass psychosomatic illness. It seems strange, but the only alternative would be if somehow all four of them had ingested a rare Bulgarian-derived alkaline poison we haven’t seen since the Cold War.”

Happily, Hillary Clinton’s campaign reported that she is in “excellent health, and excited to take the stage for tonight’s debate.” Clinton was however apparently disappointed that she would be appearing alone, and so that instead of a vigorous debate she will instead have two hours to herself to say whatever she wants.

“I’m really sorry to hear that Jim Webb touched that door handle and picked up some kind of transdermic poison,” said Clinton. “I mean, if that’s what happened to him.”