Rajasthan Declares Black Fungus An Epidemic Due To Rising Infection Cases

Rajasthan Black Fungus Epidemic: According to a notification issued by Rajasthan's Principal Health Secretary, Black Fungus has been declared an epidemic in the state.

The second wave of the pandemic and the rise of Black Fungus cases has troubled both patients and doctors. According to reports, there are about 100 patients infected with Black Fungus in Rajasthan right now. The state has been dealing with the rising case of fungal infection along with COVID-19.

A notification issued by the Rajasthan state’s Principal Health Secretary, Akhil Arora, states that Mucormycosis or Black fungus has been declared an epidemic in Rajasthan. The Rajasthan Epidemic Act 2020 also notified it as an epidemic and a notifiable disease in the state.

A separate ward has been made at Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital in Jaipur solely for the treatment of infected patients. Akhil Arora said that this step was taken in order to ensure a better integrated and coordinated treatment of black fungus and the coronavirus. Apart from SMS Hospital, a treatment facility for the infection has also been recently set up in a Bangaluru hospital. Read more on that here.

While not all COVID-19 patients are exposed to this infection, it can be a factor that causes high mortality for the infected person. Experts and doctors have said that Black fungus has a higher chance of infecting people with weaker immune systems.

Black Fungus is caused by moulds that naturally exist in the environment in groups. Though the infection certainly is not new and has been around for years, it has heavily burdened the already exhausted doctors. Patients with diabetes, cancer, or kidney problems are considered to be more prone to the infection.

The symptoms of Black Fungus in COVID-19 patients depend largely on where the infection has occurred. Common symptoms include numbness, swelling in the eye or cheek area, and nose obstruction.

Dr. Manish Munjal, a senior ENT surgeon at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Delhi said that Black fungus if not treated can be fatal. He also advised COVID-19 patients to immediately prompt a biopsy and start an antifungal therapy if they have experienced the symptoms.