After Rajasthan, now Gujarat declares black fungus as epidemic

The Vijay Rupani-led government on Thuersday declared 'mucormycosis' or 'black fungus' as an epidemic.

Image used for representational purpose

New Delhi: As the number of cases of 'mucormycosis' or 'black fungus' which primarily affects people recovering from COVID-19, is on the rise the Gujarat government on Thursday declared it an epidemic under the epidemic act.

It means that it is a notifiable disease and health facilities will have to report every case of the disease in the State. The decision was taken by the state government in view of rising number of black fungus infections. 

The governments of Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Telangana and Assam too declared 'black fungus' or Mucormycois as a notifiable disease under Epidemic Diseases Act 1897 after a number of people were found to be infected with the disease in these states. 

Earlier, the Union Health Ministry urged the state governments to make ‘mucormycosis’ or black fungus a notifiable disease under the Epidemic Diseases Act 1897.

"All Government and private health facilities, medical colleges should follow guidelines for screening, diagnosis, management of mucormycosis, issued by MoHFW & ICMR,'' the Union Health Ministry said, according to news agency ANI.

As per experts, mucormycosis can be very dangerous if left untreated. It is a fungal infection that mainly affects people who are on medication that reduces their ability to fight environmental pathogens.

Major risk factors for this disease include uncontrolled diabetes mellitus, immunosuppression by steroids, prolonged ICU stay, malignancy and voriconazole therapy.

The disease can be managed by controlling diabetes, discontinuing immunomodulating drugs, reducing steroids and extensive surgical debridement- to remove all necrotic materials, according to an ICMT advisory.

An anti-fungal intravenous injection, which costs Rs 3,500 a dose and has to be administered every day for up to eight weeks, is the only drug effective against the disease.

The Drug Controller General of India, in March this year, approved Mumbai-based bio-pharmaceutical firm Bharat Serums and Vaccines Limited to use anti-fungal medication -- Liposomal Amphotericin B or LAmB -- as a medical intervention in patients of Mucormycosis.