Centre asks states to declare Black Fungus Disease an epidemic

Once listed under the act, all confirmed or suspected cases of black fungus, a condition seen in Covid patients or those who have recovered from it, have to be reported to the health ministry.

"All government and private health facilities and medical colleges have to follow guidelines for screening, diagnosis, management of mucormycosis," Health Ministry Joint Secretary Lav Agarwal has said in a letter to states.

The symptoms of the disease include blackening or discolouration over the nose, double or blurred vision, chest pain, difficulties in breathing and coughing blood. Experts have said people with diabetes are more susceptible to contract the infection.

Doctors have urged diabetics and people with compromised immunity to look for symptoms like blockage of sinus or nasal blockage on one side of the face, swelling or numbness, headache, toothache and loosening of teeth.

Over the past few weeks, India has seen a constant rise in Black Fungus cases in people recovering from Covid-19 or battling the infection.

So far, Maharashtra has registered 1,500 Black Fungus cases and 90 related deaths.

Rajasthan and Telangana have already declared the deadly disease, which is surfacing as a secondary infection, an epidemic.

Tamil Nadu, where only nine cases were reported so far, has also listed the disease under its Public Health Act.

Meanwhile, Asssam reported first death from mucormycosis on Thursday.

An ill patient may inhale the moulds present in the air which may then enter the sinus cavities, lungs, chest cavities and brain, causing complications.

Symptoms of the infection included headache, fever, pain under the eyes, nasal or sinus congestion and partial loss of vision. Facial deformity is a characteristic feature when the disease spreads in the body.

It can affect the face, the nose, the orbit of the eye and spread to the brain, leading to vision loss and also spreading to the lungs.