The Union Health Ministry urged the states to make mucormycosis, commonly known as black fungus, a notifiable disease under the Epidemic Diseases Act, stating that the infection is leading to prolonged morbidity and mortality amongst covid-19 patients.
“In recent times a new challenge in the form of a fungal infection namely mucormycosis has emerged and is reported from many states among COVID-19 patients especially those on steroid therapy and deranged sugar control,” Health Ministry Joint Secretary Lav Agarwal has said in a letter to states.
“You are requested to make mucormycosis a notifiable disease under Epidemic Diseases Act 1897, wherein all government and private health facilities, medical colleges will follow guidelines for screening, diagnosis, management of mucormycosis, issued by Health Ministry and ICMR and make it mandatory for all these facilities to report all suspected and confirmed cases to Health Department through district level Chief Medical Officer and subsequently to IDSP surveillance system”, he said in the letter.
The joint secretary said the treatment of this fungal infection requires a multidisciplinary approach consisting of several experts.including eye surgeons, ENT specialists, general surgeons, neurosurgeons and dental maxillofacial surgeons.
So far, Maharashtra has reported the highest cases of black fungus with 2000 active cases and 90 deaths, followed by Gujarat with 1163 cases
According to the CDC (Centre for Diseases Control and Prevention), this rare but critical fungal infection is caused by a group of molds known as mucormycetes. These molds are present naturally in the environment and affect humans when the body’s immunity system has been weakened and is vulnerable.
