Health Ministry Urges States And UTs To Declare Mucormycosis As Epidemic, Four Cases Of White Fungus Reported In Bihar

Though Covid-19 recoveries surpassed the daily cases for seven consecutive days in India, several cases linked to the black fungus infection, or mucormycosis, have been reported.

Thus the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare(MoHFW) urged States to make mucormycosis a notifiable disease under the Epidemic Diseases Act 1897 on Thursday (20 May).

The Ministry also directed that all government and private health facilities, medical colleges follow guidelines for screening, diagnosis, and management of mucormycosis, issued by MoHFW Indian Council of Medical Research ICMR.

Until now, four cases of white fungal infection have been observed in Bihar. Amongst one of the casualties is a doctor on the frontline as per a report in The Times of India.

White fungus infection could affect the body's vital functioning, compared to the black fungus, which affects just the sinus and lungs; it was also seen that all the four patients who had white fungus infection did have Covid-like symptoms but were tested negative.

Medical experts have also advised a test like the HRCT scan may be required to trace the white fungus infection.