Centre asks states to declare Mucormycosis an epidemic: All we know about symptoms, groups vulnerable to black fungus

Under the provision, medical facilities will have to report all suspected and confirmed cases of the post-COVID-19 complication to the states’ health departments The Union Health Ministry on Thursday urged states and union territories to make black fungus or mucormycosis a notifiable disease under the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897, stating that the infection is leading to prolonged morbidity and mortality amongst COVID-19 patients. Here's how to detect & manage it #IndiaFightsCorona @MoHFW_INDIA pic.twitter.com/lC6iSNOxGF — Dr Harsh Vardhan May 14, 2021 The ministry, in a letter, said that in recent times a new challenge in the form of a fungal infection namely mucormycosis has emerged and is reported from many states amongst COVID-19 patients, especially those on steroid therapy and deranged sugar control. “You are requested to make mucormycosis a notifiable disease under the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897, wherein all government and private health facilities, medical colleges will follow guidelines for screening, diagnosis, management of mucormycosis, issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the Indian Council of Medical Research. Maintain personal hygiene ICMR’s things to-do Control hyperglycemia Monitor blood glucose level post- COVID-19 Use steroids judiciously - correct timing, dose and duration Use clean, sterile water for humidifiers during oxygen therapy Use antibiotics/antifungals judiciously ICMR’s things not-to-do Do not miss warning signs and symptoms Do not consider all cases with blocked nose to be bacterial sinusitis, especially in the context of immunosuppressors and/or COVID-19 Do not hesitate to seek aggressive interventions Tests like KOH staining, microscopy, culture, MALDI-TOF can be done to detect fungal aetiology Don’t lose crucial time by hesitating to initiate treatment With inputs from PTI