Residents of Webuye in Bungoma County have raised concerns over a bat infestation at Lugulu Hospital, warning that the animals are polluting the environment, causing noise and foul smell, and posing potential health risks to patients and staff.
Several residents interviewed said the presence of bats within the hospital compound has sparked anxiety, with some associating the animals with bad omens, while others fear the risk of disease transmission.
Noel Simiyu and Fred Nyako led other residents in calling on relevant authorities to urgently intervene and help remove the bats from the facility.
“Bats are usually associated with bad omens such as deaths. Even when residents throw stones at them, they refuse to go away. We urge the relevant authorities to intervene and help hospital management chase away these bats,” Nyako said.
According to Dr Elias Wafula, the officer in charge of infection prevention and control at Lugulu Hospital, the bats have mainly occupied the main entrance area of the facility.
He warned that bats are known carriers of several zoonotic diseases that pose serious risks to human health.
“Bats are capable of transmitting zoonotic diseases such as Marburg, Nipah, Hendra, Ebola and rabies. Marburg is a viral disease that can be inhaled through bat droppings and is dangerous to human beings,” Dr Wafula said.
He added that the hospital has attempted various methods to drive the bats away, including spraying chemicals and using smoke, but the efforts have not been successful.
“Their droppings and saliva can spill onto surfaces or contaminate other animals. They can also carry fungi that cause Histoplasmosis,” he noted.
Dr Wafula further explained that the bats have become more persistent during the drought season, as they feed on fruits from a nearby mukuyu (fig) tree within the compound.
Hospital staff have also expressed concern over the impact on patient welfare and working conditions.
“The bats are a nuisance because of the disturbing noise they produce. People are at risk of contracting diseases, especially when the bats are actively moving around,” said Walucho Bridgit, a nurse at the facility.
She called for assistance from organizations with expertise in wildlife and pest control to safely and humanely manage the situation.
Security guard Sarah Nanjala said residents have repeatedly tried to chase the bats away by hurling stones, but without success.
“This has become an environmental hazard and poses health risks to people living and working around the hospital,” Nanjala said.
Residents and hospital staff are now urging county health officials and wildlife authorities to urgently address the situation to safeguard public health while ensuring environmentally responsible intervention.
