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8 children taken to hospitals after seizure-like symptoms at Harvard Square church concert

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8 children taken to hospitals after seizure-like symptoms at Harvard Square church concert
News

News

8 children taken to hospitals after seizure-like symptoms at Harvard Square church concert

2025-07-24 03:24 Last Updated At:03:31

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (AP) — Eight children at a church near Harvard University where a French youth choir was holding a concert suffered seizure-like symptoms and were taken to hospitals, possibly the result of fumes from cleaning supplies, officials said.

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.

The children, described as preteens and early teens, were doing fine Wednesday and were all released from local hospitals, according to the department. The Cambridge Fire Department's hazardous materials team determined fumes in the building could have come from cleaning supplies used shortly before the first complaint, the department's release said.

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 press 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 traveled 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. The Harvard Catholic Center, the Catholic chaplaincy for Harvard University students and other academic institutions in the area, referred questions to the fire department.

In this still image taken from video, and ambulance with working lights is parked in a street in Cambridge, Mass., on Wednesday, July 23, 2025. (AP Photo)

In this still image taken from video, and ambulance with working lights is parked in a street in Cambridge, Mass., on Wednesday, July 23, 2025. (AP Photo)

MONACO (AP) — Kimi Antonelli's rise to the top of Formula 1 continued in bizarre circumstances as the 19-year-old Mercedes driver won a much-delayed Monaco Grand Prix on Sunday.

Antonelli was cruising to victory with 10 laps remaining when the race was red-flagged as parts of the asphalt broke away and two cars crashed in quick succession, one of them third-placed Charles Leclerc.

The race resumed from a standing start and Antonelli took his fifth Grand Prix win in a row and extended his already vast standings lead. He's the youngest F1 winner in Monaco.

Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton crossed the line second and Alpine's Pierre Gasly third. Red Bull's Isack Hadjar was moved up to third due to a penalty for Gasly.

AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing

Mercedes driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli, of Italy, stands at the pit after the red flag during the Formula One Monaco Grand Prix race at the Monaco racetrack, Sunday, June 7, 2026. (Yves Herman, Pool Photo via AP)

Mercedes driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli, of Italy, stands at the pit after the red flag during the Formula One Monaco Grand Prix race at the Monaco racetrack, Sunday, June 7, 2026. (Yves Herman, Pool Photo via AP)

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen, of the Netherlands, reacts at the pit during the Formula One Monaco Grand Prix race at the Monaco racetrack, Sunday, June 7, 2026. (Yves Herman, Pool Photo via AP)

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen, of the Netherlands, reacts at the pit during the Formula One Monaco Grand Prix race at the Monaco racetrack, Sunday, June 7, 2026. (Yves Herman, Pool Photo via AP)

Italy's Andrea Kimi Antonelli steers his Mercedes as he leads during the Formula One Monaco Grand Prix race at the Monaco racetrack, Sunday, June 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)

Italy's Andrea Kimi Antonelli steers his Mercedes as he leads during the Formula One Monaco Grand Prix race at the Monaco racetrack, Sunday, June 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)

Italy's Andrea Kimi Antonelli steers his Mercedes during the Formula One Monaco Grand Prix race at the Monaco racetrack, Sunday, June 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Philippe Magoni)

Italy's Andrea Kimi Antonelli steers his Mercedes during the Formula One Monaco Grand Prix race at the Monaco racetrack, Sunday, June 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Philippe Magoni)

Williams driver Carlos Sainz of Spain during the third free practice for the Monaco F1 Grand Prix, at the Monaco racetrack, Saturday, June 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)

Williams driver Carlos Sainz of Spain during the third free practice for the Monaco F1 Grand Prix, at the Monaco racetrack, Saturday, June 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)

Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain smiles after the qualifying session for the Monaco F1 Grand Prix, at the Monaco racetrack, Saturday, June 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)

Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain smiles after the qualifying session for the Monaco F1 Grand Prix, at the Monaco racetrack, Saturday, June 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands smiles after the qualifying session for the Monaco F1 Grand Prix, at the Monaco racetrack, Saturday, June 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands smiles after the qualifying session for the Monaco F1 Grand Prix, at the Monaco racetrack, Saturday, June 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)

Mercedes driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli of Italy steers his car during the qualifying session for the Monaco F1 Grand Prix, at the Monaco racetrack, Saturday, June 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Philippe Magoni)

Mercedes driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli of Italy steers his car during the qualifying session for the Monaco F1 Grand Prix, at the Monaco racetrack, Saturday, June 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Philippe Magoni)

Mercedes driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli of Italy celebrates after setting the pole position during the qualifying session for the Monaco F1 Grand Prix, at the Monaco racetrack, Saturday, June 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Philippe Magoni)

Mercedes driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli of Italy celebrates after setting the pole position during the qualifying session for the Monaco F1 Grand Prix, at the Monaco racetrack, Saturday, June 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Philippe Magoni)

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