CHP probes acute gastro outbreak among students visiting Shaoguan

Health authorities are investigating an outbreak of acute gastroenteritis among students after they joined an exchange tour to Shaoguan, Guangdong.

It is understood that the school involved in the incident was Sha Tin Government Secondary School.
The Centre for Health Protection said in a statement on Monday that around 120 students and teachers from the school went on an exchange tour to Shaoguan on March 6 and 7.

On the day of their return to Hong Kong, two students developed acute gastroenteritis symptoms, and one of them vomited after alighting the coach in the afternoon, the center said.

Subsequently, 21 students who also joined the tour showed symptoms including vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain and fever between Saturday and Monday.

The center said nine of the students have sought medical attention and none of them were hospitalized.

“The CHP is investigating the source of this acute gastroenteritis outbreak from different aspects, including the possibility of transmission through person-to-person, or contaminated food or environment,” it said.

Sources said students and teachers had four meals together during the tour.

The center said it has notified the Guangdong authorities on the information of relevant restaurants.

It will also continue to follow up the outbreak, including collecting stool specimens of patients for laboratory testing.

“Viral gastroenteritis is more commonly seen in cooler months and can be caused by a variety of viruses, most commonly norovirus and rotavirus. The main symptoms of viral gastroenteritis are diarrhoea and vomiting. Other symptoms include headache, fever, and abdominal cramps,” it said.

The center said patients would develop symptoms one to two days after the infection and the symptoms may last for one to 10 days, urging the public to maintain personal hygiene.

(Wallis Wang)