India should declare the “black fungus” an epidemic. This is what Lav Agarwal, a senior official in the Ministry of Health, calls for in a letter to the 29 Indian states. If the request is honored, the outbreak could be better tracked, reports the BBC.
Some doctors blame the widespread use of steroids against the coronavirus for the spread of the fungal disease. More than 50 percent of the patients infected by the “black fungus” die within a few days. In some cases, the eyes and maxilla need to be surgically removed to stop the infection from spreading. In the already overburdened Indian health system, there is also a shortage of anti-fungal drugs.
Mold affects sinuses
The disease is caused by the Mucor mold. It enters the body through breathing or skin injuries and usually affects the sinuses there. Diabetics, the number of which is very high in India, and people with weakened immune systems are particularly susceptible to the dangerous fungal infection.
It is currently unclear how many cases of the “black fungus” have emerged. According to media reports, more than 200 mucormycosis patients are currently being treated in the hospitals in New Delhi, with dozens more on the waiting list. Separate departments have been opened for the growing number of mucormycosis patients. More than 2,000 cases have been reported from Maharashtra state. The states of Rajasthan and Telangana have already declared the “black fungus” an epidemic because of the increasing number of cases. (AFP / vof)
Published: May 21, 2021, 9 minutes ago
Last updated: May 21, 2021, 9 minutes ago