“Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar announced black fungus as an epidemic,” the CM’s office said in a tweet. Earlier the infection was termed a notifiable disease in the state.
“Following instructions from chief minister Nitish Kumar, Black Fungus has been made a notifiable disease under the Epidemic Disease Act. Government and private hospitals will have to inform the health department through a civil surgeon. Patients will get free medicine,” said Mangal Pandey.
The central government said on Saturday that there are 8,848 cases of black fungus across the country.
Based on this, the government has allocated 23,680 additional vials of Amphotericin-B to various states and union territories (UTs).
It is a very rare infection that is caused by exposure to mucor mould which is commonly found in soil, plants, manure, and decaying fruits and vegetables. It affects the sinuses, the brain and the lungs and can be life-threatening in diabetic or severely immunocompromised individuals such as cancer patients or people with HIV/AIDS.
News Source : Hindustan Times
