Outbreak alert: methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus spreading in tuen mun hospital
The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The spokesperson for Tuen Mun Hospital (TMH) made the following announcement today (May 6):
A 14-day-old baby girl of a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of TMH was transferred to Hong Kong Children Hospital (HKCH) for treatment due to underlying illness. She was identified as a carrier of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) without symptoms of infection by screening on April 29. In accordance with the prevailing infection control guidelines, TMH has performed screenings. Six more babies (three boys and three girls, aged 6 days to 5 months) of the same ward were confirmed to be MRSA carriers without any symptoms of infection.
The 14-day-old baby girl is now being treated under isolation in HKCH and in serious condition due to underlying illness. The remaining babies are currently being treated under isolation in TMH. Three of them are in serious condition due to underlying illness, the others are stable.
The hospital is very concerned about the incident and investigating the source of infection. Moreover, the hospital has performed enhanced medical surveillance and screening of the patients in the ward concerned. The following infection control measures have been stepped up according to established guidelines:
The cases have been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for necessary follow-up.
Source: AI-generated images
Music Office bands, choirs and orchestras invite applications for membership
The Music Office of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department is recruiting new members for its 18 bands and orchestras as well as two choirs. Training for 2025-26 will be held from this September to May 2026. The deadline for applications is May 6.
The 20 ensembles are respectively the Hong Kong Youth Chinese Orchestra, the Island Youth Chinese Orchestra, the Kowloon Youth Chinese Orchestra, the New Territories Youth Chinese Orchestra, the Music Office Junior Chinese Orchestra, the Music Office Children's Chinese Orchestra, the Hong Kong Youth Symphony Orchestra, the Music Office Junior Symphony Orchestra, the Hong Kong Youth Strings, the Island Youth Strings, the Kowloon Youth Strings, the New Territories Youth Strings, the Hong Kong Youth Symphonic Band, the Music Office Youth Brass Band, the Kowloon Youth Symphonic Band, the New Territories Youth Symphonic Band, the Music Office Junior Symphonic Band, the Hong Kong Children's Symphonic Band, the Music Office Youth Choir and the Music Office Children's Choir.
Young musicians aged 25 or below who have attained the required music qualifications can now apply to enrol in different levels of ensemble and choir training. Apart from weekly rehearsals, members can also broaden their horizons by participating in various cultural activities and concerts, or attending exchange sessions with young musicians from the Mainland and overseas.
Training is free, but members are required to bring their own instruments (except for bulky instruments) and pay for their uniforms and music scores.
Interested persons can visit the Music Office website (www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/mo/training/bandchoirandorchestratraining.html) for more details and application submission. Course pamphlets and application forms are also available at all Music Office's music centres. Qualified applicants will receive an audition notification by May 31. Applicants will be notified of their application results by August 15.
For enquiries, please call the Music Office's music centres at 2802 0657 (Wan Chai), 2796 2893 (Kwun Tong), 2399 2200 (Mong Kok), 2158 6462 (Sha Tin) and 2417 6429 (Tsuen Wan).
