After curbing Corona spread, UP govt focuses on raising awareness among people aware Black fungus

New Delhi: After efficiently managing a steep drop in active number of COVID-19 cases, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is now focused on to control the effect of black fungus disease.

Instructing the health officials, CM said, “Make sure adequate amounts of Amphotericin-B injection and two other tablets prescribed by experts are present in every district,” noting that arrangements should be made for both prevention and treatment of the disease.

“Some cases of this fatal disease have been found among recovered COVID-19 patients. The Department of Health and Medical Education should ensure that every patient with black fungus receives appropriate treatment,” said the Chief Minister while addressing a high-level meeting.

The CM said the state government is focusing on ensuring awareness and treatment of the black fungus infection. He also urged people to take preventative measures as much as possible.

He also recommended to use masks while visiting dusty construction sites, wear shoes, long trousers, long sleeve shirts, and gloves while handling soil (gardening), moss or manure and maintain personal hygiene.

The CM also directed the officials to develop a separate facility and reserve a few beds in every hospital for the treatment of black fungus.

To overcome the challenges posed by the increased cases of black fungus, the UP Government has already formed a 12-member COVID-19 associated mucormycosis (CAM) management team of SGPGI.

The team will be responsible for:

– Forming Rapid Response Teams (RRTs)
– Making treatment protocol
– Ensuring availability of medicines and database of cases
– Creation of more teams in state medical colleges and hospitals
– Sensitisation of healthcare workers for early diagnosis and management of cases as per ICMR guidelines
– Making recommendations to reduce panic among public and health care workers

The government believes that by increasing surveillance on patients with black fungus, it can be controlled quickly. CM also stated that detailed reports regarding prevention, precautions, and treatment should be submitted to the Chief Minister’s Office regularly.

Earlier, the Yogi Government had also conducted the training of health personnel engaged in the treatment of black fungus.

Concerned over post-COVID-19 problems, CM has directed to set up post-COVID centres in every district of the state as soon as possible with the deployment of doctors.

About Black Fungus

‘Black Fungus’ also known as mucormycosis has very deadly effects. The Central Government in an advisory stated that the fungal infection affects people who are on medication as it reduces their ability to fight environmental pathogens.

Diabetes, prolonged consumption of steroids and prolonged ICU stay are the major risk factors for this disease. Some of the symptoms of this rare disease include pain, swelling/redness around the eyes and nose, fever, headache, cough, shortness of breath and bloody vomits.

Patients prone to contract black fungus are

Patients who have recovered with COVID-19, high on steroids, received Immunosuppressive therapy, or were in ICU for a long time, and patients with uncontrolled diabetes are at high risk of suffering from Black Fungus.