Rajasthan CM Declares Free Treatment For Black Fungus Infection

Ashok Gehlot, the chief minister of Rajasthan announced free treatment for black fungus infection across all districts.

“The state along with creating awareness among masses related to its symptoms and precautions has also made arrangements of its free treatment across all districts of the state,” the chief minister said.

His latest announcement comes after the Rajasthan government notified the black fungus disease or Mucormycosis as an 'epidemic' under Rajasthan Epidemic Act 2020.

Ashok Gehlot also said that the state government should have complete details of all the patients having black fungal infection. He also said that Rajasthan is working towards getting such diseases treated in the private hospitals empanelled under the Mukhyamantri Chiranjeevi Yojna.

About 100 patients have been affected by the black fungus in the state of Rajasthan, according to reports. For treatment purposes, a separate ward has been made at Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital in Jaipur, as per protocol.

The state health department has issued a medical protocol, which has been recommended by the Mucormycosis board comprising experts from 11 departments. This protocol will now focus on the prevention, symptoms, treatment and investigation and of the black fungal infection.

The situation regarding the black fungal infection is dire all over the country. There is a scramble for the anti-fungal drug, Amphotericin B which is used for treating the disease.

Meanwhile, Gujrat has become the latest state to declare the black fungus an 'epidemic'. Governments of Delhi and other states such as Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Telangana and Assam too have declared Mucormycosis as a notifiable disease under Epidemic Diseases Act 1897.

Earlier, the central government had directed states to notify black fungus under the aforementioned epidemic diseases act.

Although the infection is rare, it can be very dangerous if one gets infected with it. Now a new fungal infection caused by a white fungus has now been discovered. This has been reported to be more dangerous than the black fungal infection.