Amid rising cases of Mucormycosis (Black Fungus), the Rajasthan government on Wednesday declared the infection as an epidemic. The cases of black fungus are continuously increasing in the state, and a separate ward has been created in the Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital in Jaipur in order to tackle the situation.
As per the notification issued by the state’s Principal Health Secretary Akhil Arora, Mucormycosis has been notified as an epidemic and a notifiable disease in the state under the Rajasthan Epidemic Act 2020. The step has been taken in efforts to ensure the integrated and coordinated treatment of black fungus and coronavirus.
Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has also expressed concern over the increasing number of black fungus cases in the state and therefore has ordered the officials to include the treatment in the health insurance scheme.
Currently, the state has registered about 100 patients of Mucormycosis. Apart from this, Rajasthan has also issued orders to purchase 2,500 vials of amphotericin-B, the drug used to treat Black Fungus.
Delhi is also “frequently reporting” cases of black fungus. Other than Rajasthan and Delhi, cases of black fungus have been reported in various parts of the country including Karnataka, Uttarakhand, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana and Bihar.