Black Fungus: India Reports 8,848 Mucormycosis Cases

India has recorded 8,848 cases of mucormycosis or black fungus, one of the rapidly spreading infections observed in those recovering from Covid-19.

In this direction, the Union minister of chemicals and fertilisers D.V. Sadananda Gowda has announced an allocation of 23,680 additional vials of Amphotericin-B.

Mucormycosis (Black Fungal Disease): A Complication of COVID-19
Mucormycosis is spread by spores from the black fungus, Mycormycetes. It mainly affects people with a weak immune system and attacks the lungs and other organs of the body. It is also known as Black Fungal Disease.

‘Taking note of the increasing numbers, the Central government has emphasized upon expediting the allocation of vials of Amphotericin-B, a key drug to treat raging mucormycosis.’

The minister also informed that the allocation has been made based on total number of patients which is approximately 8,848 across the country.

Gujarat (5,800) and Maharashtra (5,090) have been allocated the maximum number of the additional Amphotericin-B vials followed by Andhra Pradesh (2,310), Madhya Pradesh (1,830), Rajasthan (1,780), Karnataka (1,270).

Gujarat has reported maximum of 2,281 mucormycosis cases followed by Maharashtra (2,000), Andhra Pradesh (910), Madhya Pradesh (720) Rajasthan (700), Karnataka (5,00), Haryana (250), Delhi (197), Punjab (95), Chhattisgarh (87), Bihar (56), Tamil Nadu (40), Kerala (36), Jharkhand (27), Odisha (15), Goa (12) and Chandigarh (8).

Gujarat Declares Black Fungus or Mucormycosis as Epidemic
After the Union Health Ministry urged the states and Union Territories (UTs) to make mucormycosis or 'black fungus' a notifiable disease under the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897, the Gujarat government on Thursday declared the fungal infection as an epidemic.

Mucormycosis is a serious but rare fungal infection caused by a group of molds called mucormycetes that has been developing in Covid-19 patients. The fungal disease is commonly being observed in patients who were given steroids for a long time, who have been hospitalised for a long time, were on oxygen support or ventilator, faced poor hospital hygiene or those who have been taking medication for other illnesses such as diabetes. If not treated on time, the black fungus infection can turn fatal. The Covid medications can leave the body weak and low on immunity. They can also escalate the blood sugar levels in both diabetics and non-diabetic Covid-19 patients.

Source-IANS

New Drug Holds Promise for Combatting Deadly Mucormycosis Infections
A new Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute (LA BioMed) study holds hope for adding to the arsenal of therapies physicians have to combat an increasingly common infection afflicting people with weakened immune systems.

Amphotericin B

This medication is an antibiotic, prescribed for life-threatening fungal infections. It is also effective in treating leishmaniasis. Newer preparations of this medication with lipid are now available which show lesser side effects than the older preparations.