8 children suffered seizure-like symptoms at youth choir concert

(NewsNation) — Massachusetts officials took eight children to hospitals after displaying seizure-like symptoms during a youth choir performance at a church near Harvard University on Tuesday.

The symptoms weren’t life-threatening for the “pre-teen” and “early teen youths” impacted, and dozens of other attendees were not affected, according to the fire department for the city of Cambridge, Massachusetts.

The cause is still unknown, but officials said initial air testing found that “no hazardous conditions were present” at St. Paul’s Parish in Harvard Square.

Nearly 80 people gathered at the church Tuesday for a free performance by French youth choir, the Chœur d’Enfants d’Île-de-France.

St. Paul announced the event days prior in a Facebook post: “Founded in 1970, the youth choir has travelled extensively and performed with some of the world’s top conductors and soloists. The concert will feature and exciting mix of sacred and secular repertoire, as well as popular French songs.”

Local reporting indicated that the affected children were part of the choir, though officials have not confirmed that publicly.

Seizure symptoms can include confusion, jerking movements of extremities, losing consciousness or sharp changes in emotions or thinking, according to the Mayo Clinic. They’re caused by a disruption between nerve cells in the brain, which can be triggered by epilepsy, illness, injuries or other factors.

It’s unclear which symptoms the eight children had experienced.