Following a rumour, the Public Health Directorate has received calls from members of the public enquiring whether the new strains of MRSA USA 300 have been found in a local swimming pool. The Department of Health (DH) would like to assure members of the public that the strains of MRSA - called USA 300 has not been identified in any sporting or recreational facilities in the Isle of Man. All such facilities continue to be safe and there is no need to avoid visiting such facilities; specifically there is no need to keep children away from swimming pools for fear of MRSA USA 300. A very small number of cases of MRSA USA 300 had been isolated on the Island. MRSA USA 300 is a well known organism in other countries, especially the USA; however this was the first time it was isolated in the Isle of Man. The DH would like to reiterate there is no evidence that MRSA USA 300 has spread and that all recreational and sporting facilities continue to be safe on the Island. The reason for the awareness raising is to avoid any potential spread of the organism in the future. - ENDS -