Black Fungus Declared as Notifiable Disease Under Epidemic Act in These States: Here’s A List

As cases of black fungus or mucormycosis have increased in the country during the second wave of the Covid-19 epidemic, several states have declared this rare fungal infection caused by a fungal group as a known disease under the Pandemic Diseases Act, 1897. Many Covid-19 patients in India, more recently, have been diagnosed with potentially fatal infections.

Recently, the Union’s health department urged the states and territories of the Union to turn black fungus into a disease known as the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897, stating that infection leads to long-term illness and death among Covid-19 patients. A legally recognized disease is required to be reported to government officials. The collection of information allows authorities to be aware of the disease and provides early warnings of possible outbreaks.

Mucormycosis, also known as ‘black fungus’, is more common in people who have been vaccinated against Covid-19, diabetes, kidney disease, liver or heart disorders, age-related problems, or those with immunosuppressive drugs such as arthritis. The disease begins to appear as skin infections in the air pockets found behind the forehead, nose, bones and between the eyes and teeth. It also spreads to the eyes, lungs, and brain. It leads to darkening or discoloration over the nose, blurred vision or double vision, chest pain, difficulty breathing and coughing up blood.

Here is a list of declarations of mucormycosis as a known disease:

1. Odisha

The government of Odisha has declared mucormycosis as a common disease under the Epidemiology Act, 1897. On May 10, the Odisha government announced that the first case of mucormycosis had been found in the state. A state-level committee is promptly identified and prosecuted for such cases.

2. Rajasthan

Prime Minister Ashok Gehlot recently said the black fungus infection was declared a pandemic in Rajasthan as the state government needed to have full details of patients suffering from the disease. Mucormycosis or black fungus is a common disease in the province under the Rajasthan Pandemic Act. About 100 patients in Rajasthan are affected by black mold. For treatment, a separate ward has been set up at Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital in Jaipur, according to the law.

3. Telangana

The Telangana government has declared that mucormycosis is a highly contagious disease that has been diagnosed with Covid-19 as a contagious disease under the Epidemiology Act of 1897, according to official notice. The order said all public and private health facilities would follow guidelines for testing, diagnosis and management of black mold by the Union Department of Health and the Indian Medical Research Council (ICMR). The government has designated Gandhi General Hospital and ENT Government Hospital as treatment centers for black fungus.

4. Uttarakhand

The Uttarakhand government has declared black fungus a disease to be introduced in the province under the Epidemic Act, 1897. To date, 64 people have been infected with black fungus in the province and four of them have died. The national government also released the SOP on Saturday for the clever distribution of Amphotericin B, a drug used to treat black fungus patients.

5. Madhya Pradesh

The government of Madhya Pradesh has declared black fungus as the world’s most endemic disease. The State Department of Health and Family Welfare on Friday issued an order, in which it declared black mold under the provisions of the Epidemic Disease Act and the Madhya Pradesh Public Health Act. Johannesburg – Four people have died of mucormycosis in Damoh and Balaghat districts, officials said on Friday.

6. Bihar

Bihar’s Prime Minister Nitish Kumar has also declared black mold as a black mold that has been declared under the provisions of the Epidemiology Act.

7. Karnataka

Karnataka Health Minister K Sudhakar recently said the infection of mucormycosis is now a common disease and no hospital or medical facility has the capacity to provide treatment that should refuse patient admission. He said a government official order in this regard would be announced soon.

8. Tamil Nadu

The Tamil Nadu government has also declared black fungus a disease to be introduced after nine people were found to be infected in the province.

9. Gujarat

Gujarat Prime Minister Vijay Rupani has also declared black fungus a pandemic in the province. “Public and private hospitals / medical colleges treating the disease will have to follow the guidelines of the Union Department of Health as well as the ICMR regarding diagnosis, diagnosis and treatment,” the Gujarat CMO said in a statement.