The Centre for Health Protection said it is investigating the source of an acute gastroenteritis outbreak involving students of a secondary school in Sha Tin who joined an exchange tour to the Mainland.

The centre revealed that upon receiving media enquiries late last night, it took the initiative to contact the school and learnt that about 120 teachers and students went on an exchange tour to Shaoguan in Guangdong on March 6 and 7.

On the day of their return to Hong Kong, two students developed acute gastroenteritis symptoms in the morning and at noon respectively. Additionally, one of the two students vomited after alighting the coach in the afternoon.

Subsequently, 21 fellow students also developed acute gastroenteritis symptoms, including vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain and fever, between March 8 and 10. Nine of them sought medical attention and none required hospitalisation.

The centre is looking into the outbreak from different aspects, including the possibility of transmission through person-to-person, contaminated food or the environment. It also noted that it has notified the Guangdong authority about the relevant restaurants.

The centre will continue to follow up on the incidents, including collecting stool specimen of patients for laboratory testing and providing advice to the school on infection control measures.

Visit the centre’s website for information on viral gastroenteritis.