A group of Form 2 students fell ill and had to be rushed out of the classroom yesterday at Sacred Heart College, St Julian’s, after being exposed to a foul smell permeating the room.

A concerned father told Times of Malta that some 18 pupils were affected.

His daughter suffered from a stomach ache, red blotches on her stomach and ran a slight fever. Students suffering from asthma were among the worst affected by the mysterious smell.

Senior school headmistress Carmen Vella said some students first felt ill on Friday after complaining of a bad smell in their classroom. They were immediately seen to by the school nurse and sent home.

The same incident occurred again yesterday when the children filed into class in the morning and had to leave immediately after feeling sick.

Ms Vella said the students who fell sick were helped by the school nurse and the school first aiders.

An ambulance and a doctor from the health clinic were called on site. All students recovered while still at school. None of the other 800-plus students were unwell.

“After visiting the class, the health inspector told us the smell could have come from paint workmen were using on one of the outside walls of the school or, he said, it could have come from a culvert being cleaned in a nearby area,” Ms Vella said.

Last night a Health Ministry spokeswoman said public health authorities were investigating and would continue early this morning. Public health authorities gave an assurance that they would take all the necessary measures.