Rampant pigeons and crows caught ‘eating patients’ food and pooing in hospital beds’

A hospital in Malaysia is battling an infestation of pigeons and crows after footage appeared to show the birds walking around a ward and scoffing patients’ grub

A hospital has been invaded by “pigeons and crows” after a video appeared to show birds feasting on patients’ food and walking across their beds as they rested.

The shocking clip appears to show at least four birds wandering around a ward at the HTAR hotel in Malaysia, with some even crawling on beds near the heads of patients and others pecking at discarded food containers. The user who posted the clip even alleged that droppings were found all over the room.

Bizarrely the patients in the footage did not seem surprised by the feathery visitors, and no hospital staff appeared to be dealing with the avian invasion. The clip, which was posted on social media site Threads, has sparked heavy criticism, with one user writing that “no patient should be recovering in a ward shared with pigeons”.

Some commenters defended the hospital employees, arguing that such issues arose from lack of funding and understaffing.

One user described how “healthcare workers . . . face challenges due to limited facilities”, and called on the Malaysian Health Ministry to up hospital funding.

Other users pointed out that birds can carry diseases and having them in a hospital could pose a health risk.

One wrote: “birds carry virus and bacteria what if the patient already have infection and faces this? There is no hygiene in this hospital.”

HTAR hospital has admitted to having a problem with “pigeons and crows”, but says that they are dealing with the issue by pruning nearby trees and monitoring hospital buildings.

In a statement published yesterday (June 8), the hospital wrote: “For public information, pigeons and crows have made the trees surrounding the hospital their habitat.”

“This situation may occasionally result in birds inadvertently entering hospital buildings.”

“To address this matter, HTAR has implemented regular control measures, including tree pruning by the concession company and continuous monitoring of ward areas and hospital buildings.

“In addition, HTAR has sought the cooperation of the Local Authorities (PBT) to strengthen efforts in controlling bird disturbances within the hospital grounds.

“HTAR takes this matter seriously and remains committed to ensuring that the hospital environment is always safe, clean, and conducive to the well-being of patients, visitors, and hospital staff.

“All appropriate measures will continue to be implemented from time to time to reduce the risk of similar incidents recurring.”

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