GADSDEN, Alabama -- Alabama public health officials and school administrators with Etowah County are still unsure as to why a group of students and one teacher at one school were affected Thursday by respiratory problems.

However, they are continuing to look at the possible causes for the incident, which closed school not only at Hokes Bluff Middle School but also the adjoining elementary school.

Robbie Stubbs, emergency preparedness coordinator for the Alabama Department of Public Health, said 27 students and one teacher have sought medical care for the condition. Eight students are still in the hospital for observation, she said, and are in stable condition.

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"We've been dealing with a lot of rumors," she said. For example, none of the students exhibited nausea or stomach problems. There have been reports of breathing problems and a skin rash, however.



Police tape was visible outside Hokes Bluff Middle School Friday, Dec. 13, 2013. (William Thornton / wthornton@al.com)

The incident began sometime after 9 a.m. Thursday following a PE class with more than 50 students. At least two of the students have asthma, but about nine students began complaining of breathing problems, with symptoms variously described as hyperventilating, runny eyes and congestion. School administrators made the decision to evacuate the school and transport students to Hokes Bluff High School, just down the highway.

About an hour after the evacuation, rescue crews were called to the high school gym, where four students and an English teacher who had had no breathing problems at the middle school began exhibiting symptoms. They were transported to Gadsden Regional Medical Center, as had been the other nine students.

Etowah County Superintendent Alan Cosby said the middle school building has been checked out by state health officials and others. There has been no sign of a gas leak, and maintenance workers went over the school's heating and cooling system. An environmental services company is also checking out the campus, he said. On Thursday, workers checked for carbon monoxide, airborne toxins or other hazardous materials and found nothing.

At the moment, officials are awaiting other test results. Police tape was visible outside the building, as well as the gym. Hokes Bluff Middle has a campus built within the last five years, but its gym dates back to the 1960s.

Cosby said the school system may look at holding classes "in different venues" next week.

"We may work out a plan over the weekend," he said, saying Hokes Bluff Elementary will also be part of any plans. The system closed the elementary school, which is just next door, even though no students or teachers there exhibited any symptoms. "We'll notify everyone as early as possible. We're going to do everything we can to make sure that this school and its students are safe."