There is an epidemic sweeping the country that is downright creepy.

Clown hysteria has become widespread as reports come in from across the nation of creepy clown sightings and encounters. In a first for the White House, the clown phenomenon question was brought up by a reporter at a press briefing Tuesday.

This is officially an epidemic https://t.co/Yctvqa5L3w

— Scary Clown Sighting (@SpookyClowns) October 4, 2016

The issue of “creepy clowns” was raised at WH Briefing today. @PressSec didn’t know if @POTUS briefed on the matter.

— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) October 4, 2016

My favorite part of the “creeply clowns” question from @justinsink at the White House briefing is how he pins it all on the NYTimes. pic.twitter.com/MKl3osLenl

— Olivier Knox (@OKnox) October 4, 2016

Plenty of people suffer from coulrophobia, an irrational fear of clowns, but when a marketing stunt for a 16-minute horror film, “Gags, the Green Bay Clown,” went viral, the clown sightings took off.

‘Gags’ filmmaker sheds light on his creepy clown https://t.co/0kcbQUO8rm @CowalaMari @MikeRumbo66 @dawwwn5112 @t2gunner @DixonWAldridge

— Deplorable Mary (@Pkrbkrmary) September 30, 2016

Serious reports of creepy clowns appearing in cities across the country and of clowns attempting to lure children surfaced.

Clowns are trying to lure children into the woods in multiple states. https://t.co/54raIVQW1j

— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) September 28, 2016

CHILD PREDATOR CLOWNS IN TN?
TN Department of Safety is warning of them. These clowns were spotted near Jackson. https://t.co/3bkWz2zPrd pic.twitter.com/cdCGABY28j

— WMC Action News 5 (@WMCActionNews5) September 24, 2016

Chesterfield PD says it received 6 calls overnight about creepy clowns in Midlothian, Woodlake, Chester. Says some calls may be pranks#NBC12

— Colleen Quigley (@ColleenNBC12) September 28, 2016

College campuses and schools in multiple cities reported clown sightings.

Creepy clowns reported at @uiowa, but police say “at this time there is no threat” to students, campus https://t.co/gwWrJpJfmW

— Des Moines Register (@DMRegister) October 4, 2016

“Don’t be afraid of the clowns,” senior cop urges as creepy clown rumors spread online at major college campuses: https://t.co/Evj513dDR8

— CBS News (@CBSNews) October 4, 2016

WATCH: “What do we want? CLOWNS!” Creepy clown incidents on the rise! Police sweep campuses across the country… https://t.co/QdQlC5X8TX

— Good Morning America (@GMA) October 4, 2016

While some of the reports were unfounded or just pranks, there were many disturbing incidents that police have been contending with.

A 13-year-old Virginia girl was arrested for allegedly soliciting someone with a clown profile picture to kill her teacher.

Authorities say a 13yo Hampton girl asked a person posing as a clown on social media to kill one of her teachers.https://t.co/nGZGM5ThFt

— ABC13News (@ABC13News) October 4, 2016

Another 13 year-old in Philadelphia who made clown threats against her school told police it was just a prank.

Update: a 13 yr old juvenile female has been identified in reference to clown-related threats posted on social media.https://t.co/owpjXbjvfb

— Philadelphia Police (@PhillyPolice) October 3, 2016

A Texas teen was the culprit behind clown-related terror threats made online and discovered by police.

14-year-old arrested for Livingston…: Parents warn your kids – police are not playing around with the clown… https://t.co/alstIaoZwT

— Houston NewsChannel (@houston_nc) October 4, 2016

School officials in New Haven, Connecticut issued a statement to parents noting that “clown-themed posturing has been a growing trend” and moved to “prohibit clown costumes and any symbols of terror during this Halloween season.”

New Haven Connecticut schools ban clown costumes as “symbols of terror”https://t.co/A4HeCLoDq1 pic.twitter.com/RB0sosCFhf

— NEWSTALK1010 (@NEWSTALK1010) October 4, 2016

A school has actually issues a clown costume BAN! https://t.co/t55IAF3EEe – #TeamPXY

— 98 PXY (@98PXYRochester) October 5, 2016

In other reports, police urged precaution and for people not to shoot “random clowns.”

Police in Utah advise: No matter how creepy, please don’t shoot random clowns https://t.co/gNpfyTS7K3 @OMGrundhauser pic.twitter.com/TiCJDz1jAD

— David Beard (@dabeard) October 4, 2016

And some real clowns, it seems, are not happy about the negative attention.

To Florida’s creepy clowns: Scaring people in a mask is illegal here (and real clowns are sick of you): https://t.co/5gahAYOcGw pic.twitter.com/Y5i6TeuSl8

— Tampa Bay Times (@TB_Times) September 29, 2016

With Halloween fast approaching, the clown epidemic may be sticking around for a little while.

This whole “creepy clown” thing has everyone freaking out. But, think about this: was there ever a time when clowns WERENT creepy?

— Christi Lukasiak (@ChristiLukasiak) October 4, 2016

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Frieda Powers

Senior Staff Writer
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Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida where she has been writing for the BizPacReview team since 2015.

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