Another Hong Kong school trip to mainland hit by gastroenteritis outbreak

Centre for Health Protection says five students from S.K.H. St Michael’s Primary School in Fortress Hill had symptoms

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S.K.H. St Michael’s Primary School in Fortress Hill had organised a trip to Xian. Photo: Handout

Published: 12:34am, 19 Mar 2025Updated: 2:35am, 19 Mar 2025

Hong Kong health authorities are investigating an outbreak of acute gastroenteritis among primary school students on a study tour to mainland China, marking the latest in a series of similar incidents in recent weeks.

The Centre for Health Protection said on Tuesday that five students on a trip organised by S.K.H. St Michael’s Primary School in Fortress Hill had symptoms of acute gastroenteritis.

More than 100 students and teachers from eight other schools on various study tours on the mainland have reported suffering from acute gastroenteritis symptoms over the past few weeks. The government last Friday set up a task force to respond to the surge of such outbreaks.

In the latest outbreak, 63 students and seven teachers joined a trip to Xian in Shaanxi province from last Tuesday to Friday. The first case emerged on Friday morning, when a student began experiencing symptoms of acute gastroenteritis, including vomiting, on a bus journey.

Four students sitting nearby on the bus developed symptoms by Sunday.

Two of the students sought medical attention, although none required hospitalisation, the centre said. Preliminary investigations indicate that the symptoms were consistent with norovirus infection.

The primary school students visited Xian in Shaanxi province. Photo: Xinhua