Bedbugs have resurfaced at Thyolo District Hospital, forcing authorities to relocate some female wards as efforts to contain the infestation intensify.

Thyolo District Hospital Service Administrator, Montfort Nkhoma, confirmed that the pests were detected in selected sections of the facility earlier this week.

“As soon as the report was received, our environmental health team moved in quickly to fumigate the infested wards,” said Nkhoma.

He said the hospital has since intensified monitoring to ensure the situation is fully addressed.

“We are continuing surveillance to make sure the situation is completely contained,” he added.

Nkhoma further noted that the hospital is strengthening community education on preventing the spread of bedbugs, emphasizing improved hygiene practices such as sealing cracked floors and regularly washing bedding with warm soapy water.

He added, “Bedbugs commonly hide in cracks and in fabric materials, so communities must ensure proper household hygiene to reduce their spread”.

Some guardians told Zodiak that the infestation disrupted hospital operations.

“The situation forced the relocation of some female wards,” said one guardian.

This is not the first time the facility has faced such a challenge; last year, bedbugs also caused havoc in the TB ward.