EIGHT children singing in a choir concert have been hospitalized after suddenly suffering seizure-like symptoms during the show.
The kids said they smelled a mysterious odor that made them feel sick before seizing.
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The shocking mass health emergency happened after paramedics responded to a call about a child having a seizure at a church in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on Monday evening.
When paramedics arrived, they saw the child sitting on the front steps of St. Paul’s Parish after the seizure had subsided, Cambridge Fire Chief Thomas Cahill told Boston ABC affiliate WCVB.
But while officials assessed that child, seven other kids, all between the ages of 11 and 13, started developing similar symptoms inside.
“They were all transported to hospitals around the Cambridge area,” Cahill said.
The children said they smelled an odor inside the church that made them feel sick during the performance and were having trouble breathing.
Other adult attendees also reported noticing a mysterious smell.
However, first responders said that they didn’t notice anything out of the ordinary when they got there, but they ventilated the building as a precaution.
The other 70 attendees at the show were fine.
Cahill described the incident as “somewhat unusual” and “not common.”
Hazmat crews couldn’t find any dangerous readings when they assessed the building.
“At this time we are not sure of what caused the reaction,” he told the Boston Globe.
Officials confirmed that the kids were stable and will be OK.
The Cambridge Fire Department shared pictures of firefighters carrying children outside the church.
The department thanked emergency medical services and local cops for helping ensure the children were safe.
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FAMOUS CHOIR
St. Paul’s is a historic Catholic parish that serves Cambridge residents as well as students at nearby Harvard University.
Cahill said they are clearing the building and then will turn it back over to Harvard.
All of the children were members of the renowned choir Chœur d’Enfants d’Île-de-France and were visiting to give a free concert.
Before the incident, St. Paul’s encouraged people to attend the concert in a post on Facebook.
“Founded in 1970, the youth choir has travelled extensively and performed with some of the world’s top conductors and soloists,” the church wrote.
“The concert will feature an exciting mix of sacred and secular repertoire, as well as popular French songs.”
The concerning incident comes after a sickness outbreak left children vomiting on each other in class.
