CHICAGO — Several students at a Chicago high school have become ill after eating school lunches that officials believe were contaminated with rat droppings.

Chicago Public Schools spokeswoman Marielle Sainvilus says the district immediately closed the kitchen after learning of the problem at Emil G. Hirsch Metropolitan High School on Wednesday.

Sainvilus tells WBBM radio that officials from the school district will be at the South Side school over the weekend to make sure "the problem has been fully eradicated."