Up to two-thirds of a primary class at an ESF school have developed flu-like symptoms, prompting health authorities to mount an urgent investigation.
Phoenix International School, in Tonkin Street, Cheung Sha Wan, reported several children out of 19 attending Primary Five had been sent home because they were feverish, the Centre for Health Protection said yesterday.
But there was some confusion over numbers, with Principal Cheung Siu-ming saying 13 had come down with fever.
The centre said two girls and seven boys - aged nine and 10 - had fever, sore throats, coughs and runny noses - symptoms of 'an influenza-like illness'.
'None required hospital admission and all remained stable,' a spokesman said. The first case occurred on New Year's Day and the most recent yesterday.
Hong Kong is on a flu alert as this is the peak season and the region has seen a recurrence of bird flu.
Hanoi reported on Wednesday that a boy in southern Vietnam had died of bird flu, taking to 22 the number of people killed there since late 2003.