The rising number of Mucormycosis commonly known as Black Fungus is worrying the Central Government and state governments. The cases of Black Fungus have been witnessed at a time, when India is fighting the second wave of the Wuhan virus, also known as the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19.)
Mucormycosis or Black Fungus is infecting people who have recovered from the deadly Novel Coronavirus infection. The major reason behind contracting this post Wuhan virus side effect (Black fungus,) is the use of steroids for the COVID-19 treatment. The steroids help with the breathing difficulty, however the same steroids make the body susceptible to the fungus, which is already in the soil and could be airborne. The common symptoms of the newl infection include blackening or discoloration over the nose, blurred or double vision, chest pain, breathing difficulties and coughing blood.
On the 20th of May, the Government of India (GoI) confirmed 7,250 cases of Black Fungus, of which 219 people died due to the same. Concerned with the same, the Central Government directed respective state governments to declare the newly found infection notifiable under the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897.
In addition, the Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal requested the GoI to set up three government hospitals, Lok Nayak, GTB Hospital and Rajiv Gandhi Hospital to be dedicated centres for the treatment of Black Fungus.
So far, nearly 13 states and union territories (UTs) reported cases of Black Fungus. Of the 13 states/UTs, Maharashtra (1,500 cases and 60 deaths,) Madhya Pradesh (575 cases and 31 deaths,) Haryana (268 cases and 8 deaths,) Delhi (203 cases and 1 death,) Uttar Pradesh (169 cases and 8 deaths,) Gujarat (1,163 cases and 61 deaths,) Bihar (103 cases and 2 deaths,) Chhattisgarh (101 cases and 1 death, Karnataka (97 cases) and Telangana (90 cases and 10 deaths) has the highest number of cases.
Meanwhile, states like Karnataka, Rajasthan and Telangana, declared the post Wuhan virus infection, Black Fungus as notifiable under the Epidemic Disease Act 1987. The respective state governments directed hospitals to submit detailed reports of Black Fungus cases and issued separate guidelines for them to treat persons infected with Black Fungus. It is to be noted, the commonly used drug for Black Fungus is antifungal drug Amphotericin B.
In regard to this, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and urged him to allow eligible pharmaceutical companies to manufacture Amphotericin B injection. Responding to this, Mansukh Mandaviya, the Union Minister of State for Ports, Shipping and Waterways assured the production of the drug and said, various pharma companies got approval to manufacture Amphotericin-B and started the production.
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