India, coronavirus and black fungus: “Declare an epidemic”

The situation in India is increasingly dramatic where, in addition to the second wave of coronavirus that continues to rage, the so-called ‘black fungus’ has been detected among patients suffering from Covid-19. Mucormycosis, caused by exposure to a group of molds called mucormycetes, is characterized by a high mortality rate and the risk of causing mutilation to surviving patients. This is another challenge for the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said today. Read also At the moment, around 5,000 identified cases have been confirmed among Covid-19 patients across the country, but the figure could be much higher, as only a few state governments have reported cases to health authorities. The state of Maharashtra has recorded 1,500 cases of mucormycosis and 90 deaths, while other cases have been reported in New Delhi, Karnataka, Haryana, and in the states of Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. The federal health ministry then urged states to declare the disease an epidemic under the law, making it mandatory for hospitals to report cases to federal authorities. Experts say the disease, known as “black fungus” because it is often accompanied by blackening of the areas around the nose, is common among patients with diabetes and is linked to unregulated use of steroids – which has been shown to be effective. also as a life-saving treatment for Covid-19. Legal drug abuse is rampant in India, where most drugs, including steroids, are available in drugstores without the need for special prescriptions. India is the second most affected country in the world by the pandemic, and has reported 259,551 new infections and 4209 coronavirus-related deaths in the past 24 hours.