Patients shifted from MKCG psychiatry ward after bedbug infestation

Berhampur: Authorities of MKCG Medical College and Hospital here on Tuesday shifted patients of the psychiatry department following a bedbug infestation in the ward for the past few days and engaged an agency for pest control.Patients could not sleep comfortably at night due to the attack of bedbugs. The patients and their relatives complained to the MKCG authorities about the issue.“We have shifted all 19 patients from the ground to the third floor of the department, which was vacant. Extra security has also been arranged for the patients after shifting them,” said Durga Madhab Satapathy, superintendent of MKCG. He said they have also engaged a govt-approved pest control agency to wipe out the bedbugs.“The agency has begun its work with spraying pesticides. It will treat the entire ward two or three times, while disinfecting all beds and mattresses,” said Satapathy, who is personally supervising shifting and disinfection works.He said they have emphasised on strict cleanliness and sterilisation in all the wards. He suspected the bedbugs might have come through the patients and visitors.Chandra Sekhar Tripathy, head of the department, said they found out about the infestation of bedbugs after some patients complained.Satapathy said the bedbug bites make one itch. It can lead to secondary infections when victims scratch the itches.