Govt Asks States, UTs To Notify Covid-Triggered Black Fungus Under Epidemic Disease Act

This comes as several states including Delhi, Maharashtra, Telangana and Rajasthan, are witnessing an increase in cases of black fungus amid the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.

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New Delhi: The Centre has asked all the state governments to declare mucormycosis or black fungus an epidemic and list the infection under the “Epidemic Diseases Act”.

This comes as several states, including Delhi, Maharashtra, Telangana and Rajasthan, are witnessing an increase in cases of black fungus amid the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Stating that “in recent times a new challenge in the form of a fungal infection namely mucormycosis has emerged and is reported from many states among COVID-19 patients especially those on steroid therapy and deranged sugar control”, Union Health Ministry Joint Secretary Lav Agarwal has in a letter to the states said: “This fungal infection is leading to prolonged morbidity and mortality among COVID-19 patients.”

The Joint Secretary further said its treatment needs a multi-disciplinary approach, which includes eye surgeons, ENT specialists, general surgeons, neurosurgeons, dental facial surgeons and a special anti-fungal medicine, Amphotericin.

“All government and private health facilities and medical colleges have to follow guidelines for screening, diagnosis, management of mucormycosis,” he added.

Caused by a group of moulds called mucormycetes, Mucormycosis is a rare fungal infection with symptoms such as face numbness, nose obstruction, swelling in the eye or cheeks and black dry crusts in the nose.

The cases of black fungus are being seen in some Covid patients, who were administered steroids to treat symptoms and particularly among those suffering from diabetes and cancer.

In view of the rise in cases, Telangana and Rajasthan have already declared black fungus an epidemic.