Eight children at a church near Harvard University in Massachusetts where a French youth choir was performing developed seizure-like symptoms and were hospitalized, according to U.S. officials.
According to Cambridge Fire Service, the symptoms are not life-threatening.
About 70 other attendees of the concert, which took place Tuesday night at St. Paul's Parish in Harvard Square, remained safe.
The children, described as teenagers and young adults, were doing well Wednesday and were released from local health facilities, the department said.
A press release from the department said the Cambridge Fire Department's hazardous materials team determined that fumes in the building may have been caused by cleaning products used shortly before the initial complaint was received.
Initially, emergency services received a call about a child who was experiencing seizures.
When firefighters arrived, the child was outside the church but was not actively having a seizure, Fire Chief Thomas Cahill said.
“It quickly escalated into seizure-like symptoms in seven more people,” Mr. Cahill told WCVB-TV.
The department said in a statement that its hazardous materials team “conducted a detailed inspection of the St. Paul's building using a variety of air sampling devices to ensure that no hazardous conditions existed.”
“The results were negative and the buildings were ventilated.”
St. Paul's Church's Facebook page mentions that the French youth choir Choeur d'Enfants d'Ile-de-France will perform a free concert at the church on Tuesday evening as part of its 2025 U.S. tour.
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
