Panic at MGM Hospital in Warangal after rat bites patient’s finger

Panic erupted in the orthopaedic ward of MGM Hospital in Warangal after a patient was reportedly bitten by a rat. While hospital authorities promised a probe, patients alleged rampant rodent menace and poor sanitation at the government hospital

Warangal: A patient in the orthopaedic wing of MGM Hospital was reportedly bitten by a rat, causing panic among patients and their family members and exposing the State government’s negligence in maintaining hospitals.

The patient, Bharath of Nandigama village in Nallabelli mandal, was admitted to the hospital a few days ago with an orthopaedic issue. A rat is said to have climbed onto his bed and bit his finger. The incident quickly became viral on social media.

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However, when the local media tried to confirm the claim, the patient’s family stated that they did not know what creature bit him. It was said that the staff tried to discharge the patient without anyone noticing after administering a tetanus shot.

Hospital authorities maintained they would launch a probe into the incident and take necessary action. Meanwhile, patients alleged the rat menace was rampant in the hospital due to lack of proper sanitation.

Later in the day, MGM Hospital Superintendent Dr Harish Chandra Reddy told the media that on learning about the incident that took place on Friday night, the hospital staff enquired the patient and his attendants, which was followed by due response.

The patient was admitted on November 16, underwent two major surgeries and he was kept in the orthopaedic ward for another surgery. After the patient informed the nursing officer, he was given a Tetanus Toxoid (TT) vaccine in the night and was administered Anti-Rabies Vaccine (ARV) on Saturday morning.

Dr Reddy stated that the doctors observed a single prick injury on his right hand’s middle finger. They could not ascertain whether the injury was caused by rat bite or due to any other reason.

For the past one month, special care was being taken to prevent the rat menace at the hospital. Steps would be taken on a war footing to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future, he said.