As someone who has been studying the trends of this condition since its explosive onslaught during the second wave of the Covid pandemic in India: “Sorry, but yes, we will.” Will India have a devastating ‘epidemic’ of ‘black fungus’ during the third wave as we did in the second?
Kerala government has stopped the free treatment policy for post-Covid patients who are Above Poverty Line (APL). The state has, however, introduced some packages, which comprise treatment rates on a daily basis.
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5,424 ‘black fungus’ cases in India; 84% had COVID history and 55% diabetic: health minister Harsh Vardhan
The Union Health Minister informed the majority of the black fungus cases are reported from Gujarat and Maharashtra. Meanwhile today, the first cases of yellow fungus was reported in Uttar Pradesh.
Gaon Connection
Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan. Photo: Twitter
A total of 5,424 cases of mucormycosis, commonly known as ‘black fungus’, have been reported from 18 states, said Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan today during a virtual meeting with a group of ministers on the COVID19 pandemic.
“Of the 5,424 cases of Mucormycosis, we have seen that 4,556 cases have a history of COVID19 infection, while 875 cases are amongst non-COVID patients. Diabetes was present in 55 per cent of the patients,” he said.
Express News Service
BENGALURU: There has been an “exponential” increase in cases of Covid-Associated Mucormycosis (CAM), or black fungus, in Bengaluru over the last 10 days, but the all-importantanti- fungal drug Liposomal Amphotericin or Amphotericin- B has surprisingly gone out of stock! In its absence, some hospitals are either using other alternative drugs, which may not be as effective as Amphotericin-B or are using plain Amphotericin, which is nephro-toxic and has the potential to damage kidneys.
Some private hospitals, which have operated upon CAM patients are frantically looking for Amphotericin-B and even calling government and government hospitals for some vials. “Amphotericin- B was easily available in the market till recently. It is not available now,” said Medical Director of Sri Bhagwan Mahaveer Jain Hospital, MD Marker.