Amid the deadly second wave of COVID-19, Haryana is now witnessing a surge in cases of mucormycosis or black fungus, a rare life-threatening infection. As many as 268 cases of black fungus have been reported till Thursday evening in the state.

Eight people have also died due to black fungus infection as per the official data while the actual number of fatalities is estimated to be higher than this.

Four deaths have been reported in Sirsa district, three in Gurugram and one in Sonipat till May 20 evening, as per the data with the state's Health Department.

Due to the sudden rise in black fungus cases in a week's time, the state is now also grappling with the problem of shortage of injection Amphotericin-B, required for the treatment of this fatal disease.

It was on May 15 when black fungus was declared a notified disease in the state, making it mandatory for the doctors (government and private) to report such cases to the concerned chief medical officers. Haryana Government had on May 18 also formed regulations called “The Haryana Epidemic Diseases (Mucormycosis) Regulations, 2021.

“Out of over 200 cases of black fungus reported in Haryana, maximum cases are from Gurugram, Rohtak, Faridabad and Hisar district,” said Dr Usha Gupta, Director Health Services, IDSP (Integrated Disease Surveillance Program), Haryana while talking to The Pioneer.

“As per the initial observations, the abuse of oral steroids and uncontrolled diabetes remain the primary reason behind the rise of black fungus infection among recovering and recovered COVID-19 patients,” she said.

She said that the disease is mainly affecting people who have health problems or take immunosuppressive drugs, the medicines that lower the body's ability to fight germs and sickness. It is recommended that patients seek early treatment, control diabetes and take steroids only if these are recommended and essential.

The State Government has already issued orders to prevent the irrational use of steroids, Dr Gupta added.

In a letter dated May 18 to all drug control officers of the state, the State Drugs Controller, Haryana had directed to ensure that the chemists under their jurisdiction maintain complete sales record of drugs containing steroids as per Section 18 of Drugs Act.

The order stated, “With a view to prevent the spread of black fungus cases and to prevent the irrational use of steroids for management of COVID-19 cases, it is reiterated that all drugs containing steroids which are covered under Schedule H read with Rule 65 (3) of Drugs & Cosmetics Act 1940 and Rules 1945 can be sold only on the prescription of a registered medical practitioner.”

“In view of lockdown restrictions in the state, the chemists across the state have been asked to keep a scan or click a photo of the concerned prescription and keep a digital record with them,” the order added.

Talking about the early symptoms of black fungus, Dr Gupta said that the patients suffering from this fungal infection typically have nasal congestion, facial pain, drooping of eyelids, swelling in cheeks and eye, black crusts in the nose among other symptoms.

Notably, the State Government has prepared 20-bed wards in all the medical colleges in the state to treat black fungus cases. All the district medical officers of the state have been directed to refer black fungus patients to the nearby authorized medical institutions for the treatment.

INJECTION Amphotericin-B TO BE IMPORTED

Haryana Health Minister Anil Vij on Thursday said that in view of increased demand of injection Amphotericin-B for the patients undergoing treatment for black fungus, the State Government has decided to import this medication.  “The State Government had urged the Centre to supply 12000 Amphotericin-B injections. The stock is yet to be received from the Centre hence we have decided to import this medication,” Vij said while talking to the mediapersons here.

Notably, the State Government has constituted an expert committee to decide on the distribution of Injection Amphotericin-B available in the state to individual patients admitted in public and private hospitals. The committee which meets everyday had received around 25 such requests on Wednesday.