New Delhi: After the corona crisis, the risk of black fungus ie Mucormycosis is also increasing. In such a situation, the Union Health Ministry has appealed to all the states to declare it an epidemic. The appeal of the Ministry of Health is that the state classify it as a notable disease under the Epidemic Diseases Act 1897.
The ministry, in a letter, said that in recent times a new challenge in the form of a fungal infection namely mucormycosis has emerged and is reported from many states amongst COVID-19 patients, especially those on steroid therapy and deranged sugar control.
“This fungal infection is leading to prolonged morbidity and mortality amongst COVID 19 patients,” Joint Secretary in the health ministry Lav Agarwal said in the letter.
The treatment of this fungal infection requires a multidisciplinary approach consisting of eye surgeons, ENT specialists, general surgeons, neurosurgeon,s and dental maxillofacial surgeons, among others, and institution of Amphotericin-B injection as an antifungal medicine.
“You are requested to make mucormycosis a notifiable disease under the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897, wherein all government and private health facilities, medical colleges will follow guidelines for screening, diagnosis, management of mucormycosis, issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (Gol) and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
