Delhi declares black fungus as epidemic

The Delhi government on Thursday declared mucormycosis, commonly known as black fungus, a notified disease under the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897.As per the notification, all healthcare facilities in the city - government and private - have to follow the guidelines for screening, diagnosis and treatment of mucormycosis issued by the state government, central government and the Indian Council of Medical Research. Every suspected and confirmed case of mucormycosis has to be reported by healthcare facilities to the health department.

Delhi has seen a spike in mucormycosis cases in the last one week. On May 21, there were about 200 cases of mucormycosis in the city. By May 26, the number of cases had risen to 620. Black fungus or mucormycosis is a fungal infection that affects the nose, eyes, sinuses among patients who are recovering or have recovered from COVID-19.Mucormycosis or black fungus is more common among people whose immunity has got lowered, due to COVID-19, diabetes, kidney disease, liver or cardiac disorders, age-related issues, or those on medication for auto-immune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis. Amid rising cases of black fungus, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal,  had said dedicated centres were to be set up for the treatment of black fungus cases at three city government-run hospitals -- LNJP Hospital, GTB Hospital and Rajiv Gandhi Super Speciality Hospital.