India has so far reported approximately cases of 8,848 mucormycosis or black fungus, one of the rapidly spreading infections observed in those recovering from COVID-19.
Taking note of the increasing numbers, the Central government has emphasised upon expediting the allocation of vials of amphotericin-B, a key drug to treat raging mucormycosis. In this direction, the Union minister of chemicals and fertilisers DV Sadananda Gowda has announced an allocation of 23,680 additional vials of Amphotericin-B.
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).
Mucormycosis is a serious but rare fungal infection caused by a group of molds called mucormycetes that has been developing in COVID-19 patients.
As with the COVID-19 scourge, Maharashtra leads in the number of deaths and cases of the dreaded dark cousin of coronavirus — mucormycosis, or commonly known as ‘black fungus’. After the first case was detected in third week of April, the state has now recorded a staggering 1,500 mucormycosis infections till date, said health minister Rajesh Tope.
“Of the 1,500 cases, there have been 100 deaths till now On May 21, we have declared it as a Notifiable Disease under the Epidemic Diseases Act, making it compulsory to report each case of the Black Fungus to the state health department,” Tope said.
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