8 children taken to hospitals after seizure-like symptoms at Harvard Square church concert
The symptoms were not life-threatening, the Cambridge Fire Department said in a news release. About 70 other people in attendance at the concert Tuesday evening at St. Paul's Parish in Harvard Square were not affected.
Crews first received a call about a child suffering from a seizure. When firefighters arrived, the child was sitting outside of the church but was not actively having a seizure, Fire Chief Thomas Cahill said.
'That quickly escalated into seven other people having seizure-like symptoms,' Cahill told WCVB-TV.
The department's hazmat team 'completed a thorough survey of the St. Paul buildings utilizing several air sampling meters to ensure that no hazardous conditions were present,' the news release said. 'Results were negative and the buildings were ventilated.'
St. Paul's Facebook Page said a French youth choir, the Chœur d'Enfants d'Île-de-France, was offering a free concert at the church on Tuesday night as part of its 2025 U.S. tour.
'Founded in 1970, the youth choir has travelled extensively and performed with some of the world's top conductors and soloists,' St. Paul's said. 'The concert will feature and exciting mix of sacred and secular repertoire, as well as popular French songs.'
Messages seeking comment were emailed to St. Paul's and to the Harvard Catholic Center, the Catholic chaplaincy for Harvard University students and other academic institutions in the area.
Solve the daily Crossword
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CNN
15 minutes ago
- CNN
Anti-vaccine group that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. founded files lawsuit against him over vaccine safety task force
Vaccines Children's health Federal agenciesFacebookTweetLink Follow A nonprofit anti-vaccine group founded by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said it is funding a lawsuit against him, in his capacity as secretary of the US Department of Health and Human Services, for failing to establish a task force to promote the development of safer childhood vaccines. 'Our first priority will ALWAYS be children's health. Sec. Kennedy has FAILED 'to establish a task force dedicated to making childhood vaccines safer, as mandated by federal law,' so we WILL be holding him accountable,' Children's Health Defense said Tuesday in a post on X. The tactic is one familiar to both parties. When Kennedy was head of Children's Health Defense, he filed dozens of lawsuits against corporations and government agencies, usually over vaccines. 'It's difficult to know how much of this is performative,' Dr. Peter Hotez, who co-directs the Center for Vaccine Development at Texas Children's Hospital in Houston, said in an email. 'The steady stream of pseudoscience policies and propaganda pushed out of the Humphrey Building in Washington DC are both straight out of playbook from both RFK jr and CHD. As far as I can tell there is no real daylight between the two.' The National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986 directs the HHS secretary to establish a task force consisting of the director of the National Institutes of Health, the commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration and the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The NIH director is designated as chair. According to an article posted Monday on Children's Health Defense's news site, in the years since the act was passed, no HHS secretary – including Kennedy – has ever reported to Congress on steps taken to make vaccines safer. 'This is part of the 1986 act itself,' Children's Health Defense CEO Mary Holland said in the article. 'That no secretary has done so since the passage of this law is a blow to the rule of law. I hope and trust that the current secretary will fulfill his obligation to Congress's mandate.' The task force was indeed created, but it was short-lived, issuing its final report in 1998. Since then, Kennedy has used the absence of the panel to mischaracterize the government's efforts to ensure the safety of vaccines. He's floated the idea of reviving the panel – or one like it – on vaccine safety for years. Children's Health Defense says attorney Ray Flores, its senior outside counsel, filed the lawsuit. Kennedy filed a similar suit in 2018 after a Freedom of Information Act request failed to produce any of the reports that are supposed to be filed under the Act, including the 1998 report. HHS has not responded to CNN's request for comment about the new lawsuit. Dorit Reiss, a professor of law at UC Law San Francisco, also said the lawsuit 'looks performative.' 'It may give Kennedy cover for convening this task force that he may already want to convene. It may well be collusion,' she said in an email. 'To me, this looks like a way to give political cover to something the Secretary may want to do anyway (and can do without anything). The government has answers to this lawsuit, but may not want to. 'Even if it does not include the people in the [National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act], there are multiple federal committees that routinely look at vaccine safety and how to make vaccines safer. It's something that gets a lot of attention,' Reiss wrote. Correction: A previous version of this story incorrectly described who filed the lawsuit against HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The lawsuit was filed by attorney Ray Flores and Children's Health Defense says it's funding the lawsuit.
Yahoo
40 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Kansas coach Bill Self undergoes heart procedure
Kansas men's basketball coach Bill Self was transported to Lawrence Memorial Hospital on Thursday after he 'experienced some concerning symptoms,' according to a statement from Kansas Athletics. Self had two stents inserted during a heart procedure that 'went very well,' and he is expected to make a full recovery. 'He is in good spirits and expects to be released from the hospital soon.' The university did not disclose any information regarding a timetable for Self's recovery or whether he will miss the upcoming basketball season. Self previously underwent a heart procedure and had two stents placed to treat blocked arteries in 2023. The veteran coach had experienced chest tightness and had concerns about his balance after watching shooting as his team was preparing for a Big 12 tournament quarterfinal game that year. He recovered and was present at NCAA Tournament practices, but did not fully return to coaching on the sideline for games until the following season. Who is Bill Self? Bill Self has spent the past 22 seasons as Kansas' head basketball coach, winning the national championship in 2008 and 2022. The Jayhawks have qualified for the NCAA Tournament 21 times during Self's tenure, only missing the 2020 season when the tournament was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He has compiled a 624-156 overall record during his time at Kansas. When does Kansas open the 2025-26 season? Kansas has exhibition games scheduled against Louisville (Oct. 24) and Fort Hays State (Oct. 28) before opening the season against Green Bay on Nov. 3 and North Carolina on Nov. 7. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Bill Self update: Kansas men's basketball coach has heart procedure
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
I sit at a desk all day, and this is the 1 kettlebell exercise I swear by to boost my upper body mobility and build shoulder strength
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. I remember leaning against the wall of my old gym at the end of a long work week, moaning to a PT about how tight and uncomfortable my shoulders felt after hours at my desk. She nodded knowingly, as many of her clients who work desk jobs complain of the same thing, and recommended one simple kettlebell exercise I had to try: the kettlebell halo. I took her advice and have been doing it ever since. For this exercise, I use the Bowflex adjustable kettlebell, one of the best kettlebells on the market if you want to train with weight without needing a full set of kettlebells. It lets you quickly adjust the weight depending on whether you're focusing on mobility with lighter rotations or adding a bit of strength work with a heavier load. The Bowflex SelectTech 840 is an adjustable kettlebell that goes from 8 to 40 pounds, letting you change the weight easily with a dial. You can also connect it to the JRNY app for guided workouts and training Deal How to do kettlebell halos To begin with use a very light kettlebell you can comfortably hold above your head and move in a controlled circle without straining your shoulders. Hold the kettlebell upside down by the sides of the handle close to your chest. Keep your core engaged and elbows slightly tucked. Slowly rotate the kettlebell in a circle around your head, moving clockwise for six to eight reps. Switch directions and perform the same number of counterclockwise rotations. The kettlebell halo really is a simple move with big benefits. It helps your shoulders move more freely by gently taking the joint through a full range of motion. At the same time, it strengthens the small stabilizing muscles around your shoulders, which are essential for keeping them healthy and pain-free. I love that it also works your upper back, traps, triceps, and core, so even a few minutes feels like a mini upper-body workout. When I'm consistent with this move, I can feel my shoulders loosen up and notice it's easier to maintain good posture at my desk. Sitting upright for long stretches feels more comfortable, and I'm less likely to slump or hunch by mid-afternoon. It also makes simple daily tasks, like reaching for items on a shelf or carrying a laptop bag, feel easier on my shoulders. As it's a low-impact move, halos are also perfect for warming up the upper body before a larger strength session or as an easy recovery exercise. Doing a few controlled rotations before a press, a row, or even a casual household task helps prevent tension from building up throughout the day. What I especially like about the kettlebell halo is that it's not about heavy lifting or building a certain physique. I use it purely to support my upper body strength and shoulder mobility, rather than chasing aesthetics. That means I don't worry about gradually increasing the weight or lifting heavier each week. The focus is on control, range of motion, and keeping my shoulders healthy, which makes it low-pressure and easy to fit into my daily routine. Follow Tom's Guide on Google News to get our up-to-date news, how-tos, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button. More from Tom's Guide I wear these Sweaty Betty running shorts so much I need a pair for every day of the week — luckily they're 53% off right now Here are 7 ways I get the most out of my Garmin watch when training for a race Here's how to beat burnout — study finds the ideal amount of daily exercise to boost your mood
