Updates on cluster of Candida auris cases in Kowloon Central Cluster
The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The spokesperson for the Kowloon Central Cluster made the following announcement today (June 22):
Regarding an earlier announcement on Candida auris carrier cases in the Department of Medicine and Geriatrics of Kwong Wah Hospital (KWH), the hospital has identified two additional cases in the same ward involving male patients (aged 79 and 85) through screening. Both patients were found to be carriers of Candida auris without showing signs of infection and are in stable condition. One patient has been discharged after treatment, while the other remains in isolation at KWH.
Moreover, a male patient (aged 81) in a convalescent ward of TWGHs Wong Tai Sin Hospital (WTSH) was confirmed on June 10 to be carrying Candida auris without signs of infection. A contact tracing investigation was therefore conducted under prevailing guidelines and found that six more male patients (aged 76 to 92) from the same ward were also carrying Candida auris without signs of infection. Among them, one patient has been discharged earlier, and three patients are being treated in isolation and are in stable condition. One patient has been transferred to Kwong Wah Hospital and is in serious condition due to his own underlying illness, while the other two patients (aged 76 and 81) passed away earlier due to their own underlying illnesses.
The ward concerned has adopted the following enhanced infection control measures:
- enhanced patient and environmental screening procedures;
- applied stringent contact precautions and enhanced hand hygiene of staff and patients;
- thorough cleaning and disinfection of the ward concerned; and
- adjusted visiting arrangements as appropriate.
The cases have been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health for necessary follow-up.
Source: AI-found images
Fourth-term Human Resources Planning Commission convenes sixth meeting
The sixth meeting of the fourth-term Human Resources Planning Commission was held today (June 22).
At the meeting, the Office of the Government Economist briefed members on Hong Kong's latest economic performance and labour market situation. Members noted that Hong Kong's economy expanded robustly in the first quarter of 2026, growing by 5.9 per cent over a year earlier, marking the strongest economic growth in nearly five years. The labour market showed moderate improvement in recent months, with the latest seasonally adjusted unemployment rate (for March 2026 to May 2026) dropping from 3.9per cent to 3.7per cent compared with the period from November 2025 to January 2026. Looking ahead, Hong Kong's economic outlook remains largely resilient, with the real Gross Domestic Product growth forecast for 2026 projected at 2.5per cent to 3.5per cent.
In addition, the Security Bureau briefed members on the various immigration facilitation measures for the public and businesses. These included measures facilitating the southbound and northbound two-way flow of talent, and visa and immigration facilitation measures. Through the immigration facilitation measures for the public and businesses, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government will actively align with the National 15th Five-Year Plan and fully leverage Hong Kong's unique role as a "super connector" under "one country, two systems" to better integrate into and serve the overall national development. Members welcomed the enhancement measures, noting that they would further enrich Hong Kong's talent ecosystem and inject new momentum into the city's long-term economic development.
Members also noted that the Health Bureau had commissioned the Hospital Authority (HA) to carry out a new round of healthcare manpower projections this year. The purpose of the projection exercise is to ensure that there are sufficient healthcare professionals to meet the ever-evolving demand for healthcare services in society, and that the relevant training policies remain aligned with actual circumstances. The Government and the HA will further refine the methodology for this round of projection and promote data collection simultaneously. This includes systematically compiling relevant data such as overall service volume statistics, human resource distribution, and local training scale from the industry and various medical specialties. Views regarding future population changes and the status of technology application raised by members will be incorporated. The results are expected to be published in mid-2027. Based on the projection results, the Government will revisit the existing strategies for local healthcare manpower in tandem with the next University Grants Committee triennium, as well as the reviews of other schemes, in making further recommendations on the relevant healthcare training places. With a continuously ageing population, the demand for healthcare services is facing structural growth. Members supported the HKSAR Government's proactive efforts in conducting the healthcare manpower projection, utilising data analysis to guide policy and service planning, thereby enhancing the precision and forward-looking nature of public health policies.
Source: AI-found images
