18 states have reported 5,424 cases of 'black fungus'; highest in Gujarat, Maharashtra

AIIMS Director argued that labelling the same fungus with names of different colours can create confusion

Gujarat topped the list of cases of mucormycosis or 'black fungus', accounting for nearly 40 per cent of the 5,424 cases reported from 18 states.

Nearly 84 per cent of cases have a history of Covid-19 infection and 55 per cent of the affected persons had diabetes.

The facts came up during the 27th meeting of the High-level Group of Ministers (GoM) on Covid-19 chaired by Health Minister Harsh Vardhan, who chose the occasion to appreciate the coordination between the Centre and the States in flagging emerging cases of mucormycosis.

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Out of the reported cases, 4,556 cases have a history of Covid-19 infection while the rest are non-Covid cases.

While Gujarat reported 2,165 cases, Maharashtra 1,188, Uttar Pradesh 663, Madhya Pradesh 590, Haryana 339 and Andhra Pradesh 248 cases.

Nineteen states have already declared mucormycosis a notifiable disease under the Epidemics Act.

The Health Minister said the government has been issuing warnings and advisories and communicating through the experts against the indiscriminate use of steroids for treating diabetes in the best possible manner to avoid contraction of the disease.

Vardhan informed that nine lakh vials of Amphotericin-B are being imported by the central government for the treatment of 'black fungus'. Of this, 50,000 vials have been received and around three lakh vials will be available in the next seven days.

Amid some reports about the emergence of 'white fungus' as well, AIIMS Director Randeep Guleria, Director, AIIMS, speaking during the health department's separate briefing, said it is better to identify mucormycosis by its name, rather than by the colour of the fungus and argued that labelling the same fungus with names of different colours can create confusion.

Also read: Over 440 'black fungus' cases and 12 deaths in Karnataka: K Sudhakar

"'Black fungus' is another family; this term got associated with mucormycosis due to the presence of black dots among the culture of white fungal colonies. In general, there are various types of fungal infections such as candida, aspergillosis, cryptococcus, histoplasmosis and coccidioidomycosis. Mucormycosis, candida and aspergillosis are the ones observed more in those with low immunity," he explained.

Guleria noted that mucormycosis is one of the general fungal infections being seen in recovering or recovered Covid-19 patients.

"The number of cases being reported is increasing, but it is not a communicable disease like Covid-19, meaning it does not spread from one person to another like Covid-19 does," he said

Guleria said 90-95 per cent of patients getting infected are found to have been either diabetic and/or taking steroids. He also stressed that there is no definite link between oxygen therapy and catching the infection. There have been messages circulating in social media that the administration of industrial oxygen is causing 'black fungus' in Covid-19 patients.

He said this infection is "seen very rarely" in those who are neither diabetic nor taking steroids.

“Some warning signs for mucormycosis such as headache, rusting or bleeding from nose, swelling below the eye, lowering of facial sensation, if observed in high-risk patients or those taking steroids, need to be informed to doctors so that early diagnosis and treatment can be given," he said.