8 children taken to hospitals after seizure-like symptoms at Harvard Square church concert
Eight children were taken to the hospital Tuesday evening after experiencing seizure-like symptoms at a church near Harvard University, the city's fire Chief Thomas Cahill said.
Crews were called at around 7 p.m. to St. Paul's Parish after receiving a call about a child suffering from a seizure while participating in a free choir concert.
When firefighters arrived, the child was sitting on the front steps of the building but was not actively seizing, Cahill said.
"That quickly escalated into seven other people having seizure-like symptoms," Cahill said. "They were all transported to hospitals around the Cambridge area."
During the performance, some of the children reported feeling sick from an odor, and were showing seizure-like symptoms.
Several students and adults reported smelling odors in the building, but crews said they did not detect any out-of-the-ordinary smells when they arrived.
All of the children were between the ages of 11 and 13 years old and are originally from France.
"This was somewhat unusual," Cahill said. "It was a routine medical call that quickly escalated into transporting eight children to the hospital. Not common."
A hazmat and rescue team went through the building and reported zero readings, Cahill said. The building was ventilated, Cambridge fire said.
"We are in the process of clearing the building to turn it back over to Harvard University at this time," Cahill said.
About 70 other people attending the concert were not affected, and all attendees left the area with designated chaperones, Cambridge fire said.
According to Cahill, all of the children seemed healthy before they were taken to the hospital, and were later released. It is still unclear what caused the children's illness.
St. Paul's website says the young performers are members of a renowned French youth choir. They travel the world performing with some of the most prestigious symphonies.
