100 students, teachers fall sick due to rare brain cancer in a Jersey school, probe launched

As per reports, 100 ex-students or staff members who went to the New Jersey High School developed an extremely rare type of brain cancer after they graduated or worked there. A probe has been launched as many showed concern about the alarming situation.

The troubling development came to light after Al Lupiano, a cancer survivor and former student of Colonia High School in Woodbridge, tried to unravel the riddle. He had been diagnosed with a 'rare' brain tumour 20 years ago.

The 50-year-old told NJ.com, "I will not rest until I have answers." He didn't think much of it until his wife was diagnosed with the same type of glioblastoma, followed by his sister, who was also diagnosed with the aggressive tumour and died last month.

Lupiano, an environmental scientist, chose to share his story on Facebook because he believed there was a relationship between his sister's sudden death and his and his wife's experiences. His tumour was discovered in 2002. Initially, he began his investigation with a small group of patients, but as the numbers expanded, he observed that those who were sick had either worked or attended the same high school.

'I started doing some research, and the three became into five, five turned into seven, and seven turned into 15,' Al Lupiano explained.

He asked former Colonia High School classmates and instructors on Facebook six weeks ago whether any of them were also struggling with uncommon brain tumours. His inbox was overflowing with messages.

Although there was one occurrence as recently as 2014, the great majority of patients who got brain tumours 'graduated' between 1975 and 2000.

Glioblastoma is normally incredibly rare, with an incidence of 3.21 per 100,000 people, as per the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, while since asking for others to contact us, 102 people who attended the school between 1975 and 2000 have all been diagnosed with the same type of brain cancer.

Officials in Woodbridge are now trying to figure out what's causing the ailment. "There could be a serious problem here, and our residents ought to know if there are any dangers," the mayor stated, according to the New York Post.

The officials will be carrying out radiological examinations around the school's 28-acre campus, including the testing of indoor air samples for radon