In the MucoCovi network study, 16 healthcare centres provided detailed information about proven mucormycosis cases with and without COVID-19 infection.
Black fungus or mucormycosis cases are spreading across India in the wake of the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Though this had happened last year after the first wave of the pandemic, this time around the situation is more critical and spreading faster and infecting more people. In fact, more than 20,000 cases have been reported across India. Now, in the first evidence-based multi-centre study on mucormycosis (black fungus) in India, doctors from the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, said on Saturday that the major factors that may be behind the emergence of this health crisis are uncontrolled diabetes and improper use of steroid. But they were not able to study the role of the Covid-19 virus in causing immunity disturbance leading to mucormycosis.
State declares COVID-19 Associated Mucormycosis as a notifiable disease, but is silent on treatment cost
The State government on Wednesday declared COVID-19 Associated Mucormycosis (CAM) as a notifiable disease and mandated all private hospitals to report cases to the Department of Health and Family Welfare. The order also stated that no hospital that has the facilities for treatment should refuse admission to any patient.
Health and Family Welfare Minister K. Sudhakar had said on Monday that the treatment for CAM should be given for seven consecutive weeks and costs ₹2-3 lakh
While the order lists six government medical colleges across the State [BMCRI in Bengaluru, and medical colleges in Mysuru, Shivamogga and Kalaburagi, Wenlock Hospital, Mangaluru, and KIMS, Hubballi] as centres for CAM treatment, it is silent on expenses incurred on treatment in private hospitals. On who will bear the cost, Dr. Sudhakar said he would discuss with the Chief Minister the possibility of th