Hong Kong schools struck by virus

The Sars outbreak still overshadows the territory

Around 400 people in Hong Kong have been struck down by gastroenteritis.

The outbreak emerged at a primary school last week and has since spread to four more schools and a hospital.

At least four students have tested positive for a highly contagious virus called Norwalk and are under observation in an isolation ward.

Whilst outbreaks of gastroenteritis are said to be common during the winter many are concerned that lessons from the Sars crisis have not been learnt.

Students' parents are reported to have expressed concern that they were not informed earlier.

Since the Sars outbreak last winter which killed 299 people, officials in the territory have assured the public that effective measures to prevent the spread of infection have been put in place.

The Hong Kong health department responded this week by announcing it was setting up a hotline to provide advice and information about precautions needed to prevent the spread of the disease any further.

It has also emerged that officials are carrying out a drill to test the government's response to a fictitious Sars case in an old people's home.

Eight different government agencies are taking part in the exercise.