5 Students Sickened At South Brunswick Islamic School

A hazardous materials crew has been unable to determine what caused a smell at a South Brunswick Islamic school that sickened 5 students and two teachers.

One student at the Noor-Ul-Iman School on Route 1  began complaining of stomach pains, then turned blue and passed out, South Brunswick Police spokesman Sgt. Jim Ryan tells the Patch of South Brunswick.

Officials evacuated the school as a precaution.

Two 7-year-old students were transported to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick and one 8-year-old was taken to Saint Peter’s Hospital. All those affected by the smell were in the same room.

The rest of the school’s students went to a nearby field and parents contacted as classes were cancelled for the rest of the day. No decision has been made about holding classes on Friday.

The school will be bringing in an industrial air quality company to try and determine the cause of the odor.

Ryan says one student fainted and the others said they had difficulty breathing. The Patch of South Brunswick reports  police received a call from the school around 10:15AM.  Two 7-year-old students were transported to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick and one 8-year-old was taken to Saint Peter’s Hospital.

“Medical personnel is on the scene trying to determine what the problem is,” said South Brunswick Police spokesman Sgt. Jim Ryan at 10:30 a.m. Thursday. “At this point the cause is unknown.”

Emergency officials are evaluating the situation at the one-story brick building.

The school’s website says its mission is to “provide an excellent academic and Islamic education” to students in grades K to 12.

It’s the second day in a row that a New Jersey school has had problems with fumes. Students at Manalapan High School were sent home early on Wednesday due to fumes from a painting project.

The Associated Press contributed to this story