As the cases of post COVID complications related to black fungus, ‘Mucormycosis’ are on the rise Union Health Ministry on Thursday urged the state governments to make ‘mucormycosis’ a notifiable disease under the Epidemic Diseases Act 1897.
“All Government and private health facilities, medical colleges should follow guidelines for screening, diagnosis, management of mucormycosis, issued by MoHFW & ICMR‒ the Union Health Ministry said.
The rare fungal infection is on the rise in several parts of the country. As per the Union Health Ministry, Mucormycosis or black fungus is a complication caused by a fungal infection which can lead to blackening or discolouration over the nose, blurred or double vision, chest pain, breathing difficulties and coughing blood, is linked to diabetes and those with compromised immune systems.
Doctors are continuously urging patients to watch for symptoms like sinus or nasal blockage on one side of the face, headache, swelling or numbness, toothache and loosening of teeth. Doctors say mucormycosis can affect the face, the nose, the orbit of the eye, or brain, which can cause even vision loss. It can also spread to the lungs.
Maharashtra has reported 1,500 cases and 90 deaths from the infection. Meanwhile Rajasthan and Telangana have already declared black fungus an epidemic.
Tamil Nadu, with only nine reported cases so far, has also notified the disease under its Public Health Act.
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