Gastro bug hits prestigious Qld school

A Gold Coast private school has had to quarantine students in a theatre after a gastro outbreak left more than 50 pupils ill.

More than 50 students at a prestigious Gold Coast private school have fallen ill with a gastro bug.

The students, mostly boarders, fell ill at on Thursday, forcing the school to set up beds isolated from the rest of the school population.

"More than 50 students at The Southport School have been impacted with symptoms including vomiting, nausea and diarrhoea," Gold Coast Public Health Unit's Dr Anu Anuradha said in a statement.

None required hospitalisation and all were expected to recover within the next 24 to 48 hours.

TSS dean of boarding Tony Watt praised Queensland Health for its advice in helping the school handle the outbreak.