Several Indian states are lacking an antifungal drug to treat black fungus, or mucormycosis, a disease that Indian health officials are increasingly discovering in patients who have recovered from Covid-19.
At least 52 people have died of black fungus in Maharashtra state, where the disease is increasing in patients who have recovered from Covid-19. This is shared by Dr. Tatyarao Lahane, a senior state health official, told CNN on Wednesday.
At least 2,000 cases of black fungus have been discovered in Maharashtra, according to a statement from the Ministry of Health on Friday.
“We’re getting an average of 100 cases a day now … there was a shortage (of the drug used to treat black fungus) initially because it wasn’t expected, but that’s now fixed, 16,000 doses just arrived yesterday,” added Lahane .
Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope said last Wednesday that 100,000 vials of amphotericin B, a drug used to treat black fungus, had been ordered.
“There are very few counties where there are no patients (of black fungus),” Tope also said, as states across the country such as Uttar Pradesh, Maydhya Pradesh, Delhi and Telangana have asked for the medicine to be delivered to face congestion.
“There is currently a sudden surge in demand,” said a statement by the Department of Chemicals and Fertilizers on Tuesday. “The government is determined to make every possible and necessary effort to make them available to patients in need. The shortage is.” is expected to be resolved at the earliest. ”
The west Indian state of Gujarat is also facing an increase in black mushroom cases. The local government has ordered 100,000 vials of amphotericin B and liposomal injections to treat the disease after the Gujarat Supreme Court issued an order on Monday addressing the rapid increase in cases of a carnivorous black fungus infection called “mucormycosis” went. .
“The lack of injections given for this disease and the cost of its treatment are also the issues that deserve serious and immediate consideration by the state,” the order added.
Mucormycosis is common in people with diabetes or in those with a weakened immune system. Indian health officials have increasingly discovered the disease in Covid-19 patients, even though it is not caused by Covid-19, according to a statement by the Ministry of Health on Friday
“This fungal infection is caused by a fungus called Mucor … it is found on wet surfaces … when uncontrolled Diabetes Mucor attacks occur,” said VK Paul, head of India’s Covid Task Force, on Friday.
“When someone has an illness or is taking medication that suppresses the immune system. or if they are exposed to wet surfaces they can become infected with the disease … (for Covid-19) We use drugs that suppress our immune system … when Covid-19 patients are given oxygen that has a humidifier, whose water retention can increase the tendency of the fungus, ”added Paul.