Another 21 with gastroenteritis following mainland exchange tour

Health authorities are investigating a norovirus outbreak after 20 students and a teacher have fallen ill with acute gastroenteritis while visiting the mainland on a study tour.

According to officials, 135 teachers and students from a secondary school in Tsing Yi went on a three-day exchange tour to Zhaoqing last Thursday (Mar 20). Reports said the school was Po Leung Kuk Lo Kit Sing (1983) College.

In a statement replying to media enquiries on Sunday, the Centre for Health Protection said 20 students and a teacher began developing symptoms compatible with norovirus infection last Friday, including vomiting, diarrhea, and fever.

Among them, 18 patients sought medical attention in Zhaoqing. All are in stable condition and have been discharged, and eight have tested positive for norovirus.
 
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) said it is looking into the possible source of this norovirus outbreak from different aspects, including the possibility of transmission through person-to-person, or contaminated food or environment.

Preliminary investigations revealed that all 21 affected individuals had not consumed any common food items other than the group meals and there has not been any outbreak of acute gastroenteritis in the school recently.

“After analysis of the onset time of the cases, at this stage, the centre could not preliminarily rule out that the cases were infected by consuming contaminated food,” the CHP said.

The center has notified the Guangdong health authority about their findings, and has been informed that mainland has begun an investigation into the case.

The CHP said it has provided health advice to the affected school on the transmission, prevention and infection control measures related to acute gastroenteritis.

It will continue to investigate, including collecting stool specimens for laboratory testing.

The Education Bureau said it has immediately and rigorously followed up on the incident with relevant mainland departments through a task force.

The bureau also said it has promptly contacted the school and the study tour service provider to assess the students' situation and provide support. 

Measures include requiring the service provider to disinfect the tour bus, rearranging accommodations for symptomatic students to prevent cross-infection, and supplying disinfectant products.