NEW DELHI: The Government of Rajasthan on Wednesday, May 19, declared Black Fungus as an epidemic amid rising cases of mucormycosis, which is primarily affecting people who are recovered from COVID-19. Officials said that it will be compulsory for the health department to report every case of the disease in the state.
At present, the state has more than 100 cases of black fungus and a special ward has also been established at Sawai Man Singh Government Hospital. A lot of these cases are being reported from Jaipur, Jodhpur, Sirohi and Kota districts. Akhil Arora, Principal Health Secretary, Government of Rajasthan, said that declaration of epidemic would ensure the ‘integrated and coordinated’ treatment of the disease along with that of COVID-19.
Mucormycosis appears as the side effect among those COVID-19 patients who are put on oxygen support through liquid medical oxygen cylinders or oxygen concentrators. The state government has also instructed for good quality of oxygen concentrators and strict compliance with the safety measures while using them.