New Delhi: Amid the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, the country has as of May 25 recorded 11,717 cases of mucormycosis or black fungus.
Gujarat tops the list with 2,859 black fungus cases followed by Maharashtra, which has logged 2,770 cases, and Andhra Pradesh in the third position with 768 cases, as per a data shared by Union Chemicals and Fertilizers Minister D.V Sadananda Gowda on Twitter.
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Gowda announced that additional 29,250 vials of Amphotericin- B drug, used in treatment of mucormycosis, have been allocated to all the states and Union Territories on Wednesday.
“Additional 29,250 vials of #Amphotericin- B drug, used in treatment of #Mucormycosis, have been allocated to all the States/UTs today. The allocation has been made based on the number of patients under treatment which is 11,717 across the country. #blackfungus #AmphotericinB,” he tweeted.
With India witnessing a surge in cases of mucormycosis, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Director Dr Randeep Guleria had earlier on Monday dubbed the colour classification of the fungus as misleading while categorically stating the fungal infection is not a communicable disease and its colour could vary for different areas.
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Dr Guleria classified fungus infection into three types - mucormycosis, candida, and aspergillosis. He said mucormycosis is said to be seen occurring mostly in post Covid-19 cases and added aspergillosis is an infection that affects the lungs.
“People with low immunity are infected with Mucormycosis, Candida and Asporogenous infections. These fungi are mainly found in sinuses, nose, bone around eyes, and can enter brain. Occasionally found in lungs (pulmonary Mucormycosis) or in gastrointestinal tract,” he added.