Amidst the coronavirus epidemic, increasing cases of black fungus are now posing new challenges.
The central government has reported that there have been around 9,000 cases of black fungus in the country. Of these, 60 per cent of cases have been reported from Gujarat, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh.
Given the increase in the number of patients, the central government has sent 23,000 vials of an important medicine used to treat this disease to the states.
What is black fungus?
Mucormycosis or black fungus is an infrequent infection. It is caused by mucus fungus, which thrives in soil, plants, manure, rotten fruits and vegetables. It usually affects those taking the drug for a long time and whose immunity is weak.AIIMS director Dr Randeep Guleria has stated that excessive use of steroids is the leading cause of this infection in coronavirus patients, especially diabetics.
Total 23,680 vials sent to states – Sadananda Gowda
Union Minister Sadananda Gowda has tweeted a list of cases of black fungus in different states. Gujarat leads the list with 2,281 cases. 2,000 Black Fungus cases follow this in Maharashtra, 910 in Andhra Pradesh, 720 in Madhya Pradesh, 700 in Rajasthan, 500 in Karnataka, 350 in Telangana, 250 in Haryana, 197 in Delhi, 112 in Uttar Pradesh, 95 in Punjab, 95 in Chhattisgarh. There are 87 cases, 56 in Bihar and 36 cases in Kerala.
Gowda said on Saturday that after a detailed review of the increasing number of cases of mucormycosis (black fungus) in various states, a total of 23,680 amphotericin-B vials had been allocated to all states and union territories today. He said that this allocation had been done based on the total number of patients in the country, which is now around 8,848.
Sadananda’s Tweet
After a detailed review of rising no. of cases of #Mucormycosis in various states, a total of 23680 additional vials of #Amphotericin– B have been allocated to all States/UTs today.
The Allocation has been made based on total no. of patients which is approx. 8848 across country. pic.twitter.com/JPsdEHuz0W
— Sadananda Gowda (@DVSadanandGowda) May 22, 2021
In the country, cases of Mucormycosis, i.e. Black Fungus, which have become fatal for people recovering from Corona, are continuously increasing and many people have become known.
Because of this, the Central Government has now directed all the states to notify ‘Black Fungus’ under the Pandemic Act. Apart from this, they have also been asked to report all cases.
Several states, including Rajasthan and Telangana, have declared black fungus an epidemic.