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Given the recent increase in black fungus (mucormycosis) in patients with Covid-19, the Health Ministry has notified it under the Epidemic Diseases Act 1897, and urged all States and Union Territories to declare it as an epidemic in a letter on Wednesday.
“You are requested to make mucormycosis a notifiable disease under the Epidemic Diseases Act 1897, where all government and private health facilities will follow the guidelines for screening, diagnosis, management of mucormycosis issued by MoHFW (GoI) and ICMR, and make it mandatory for these facilities to report all suspected and confirmed cases to the Health Department through district-level Chief Medical Officer and, subsequently, to IDSP surveillance system,” said the letter.
The Health Ministry letter stated that a new challenge in the form of a black fungus, namely mucormycosis, has emerged and is being reported from many States among Covid patients, who are highly dependent on steroids and have uncontrolled sugar levels. This fungal infection is leading to prolonged morbidity and mortality among Covid patients, it further said.
Treatment
The treatment of mucormycosis involves a multi-disciplinary approach comprising eye surgeons, ENT specialists, general surgeons, neurosurgeons and dental maxillofacial surgeons and institution of Amphotericin B is an anti-fungal medicine, the letter added
Rajasthan, where over 100 cases of the fungal infection were reported so far, notified it as an epidemic on Wednesday. This would help ensure integrated and coordinated treatment of black fungus and coronavirus, said the State.
Delhi CM’s move
Meanwhile, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Thursday that he has directed three government hospitals – Lok Nayak JP Hospital, GTB Hospital and Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Hospital – to set up dedicated centres for treating the disease.
He also assured that the government will ensure the supply of medicines needed for its treatment.
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