Eight Children Suffer Seizures During Church Concert
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
Eight children attending a French youth choir concert at a church near Harvard University were hospitalized Tuesday evening after experiencing seizure-like symptoms, according to local officials. The Cambridge Fire Department said the incidents occurred at St. Paul's Parish in Harvard Square, where the Chœur d'Enfants d'Île-de-France was performing as part of its 2025 U.S. tour.
Firefighters initially responded to a report of a single child having a seizure, but upon arrival, found that seven additional children had developed similar symptoms. None of the symptoms were considered life-threatening, and approximately 70 other attendees were unaffected, officials said.
A hazardous materials team conducted a thorough air quality inspection of the church buildings using specialized air sampling equipment and found no indication of dangerous substances. The buildings were later ventilated as a precaution, the department said in a statement.
St. Paul's Parish, which co-hosted the concert with the Harvard Catholic Center, had promoted the event as a free performance featuring sacred and secular works by the renowned French youth choir, which was founded in 1970. Neither St. Paul's nor the chaplaincy has yet responded to requests for comment.
This is a developing news story. Updates to follow.
This article includes reporting by the Associated Press.
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