Karnataka appoints technical advisory panel to study black fungus infection

A high-level technical advisory panel has been appointed by Karnataka health minister Dr. K. Sudhakar to study post-covid black fungus infection-related cases in the state. Meanwhile, Karnataka's Bagalkot administration on Monday informed that three black fungus cases have been found in patients recovering from COVID-19.

Bengaluru:After a few cases of black fungus found in patients recovering from COVID-19 in Karnataka, state health minister Dr. K. Sudhakar on Monday appointed a high-level technical advisory panel to tackle the situation.

The advisory panel consists of Dr. Satheesh, Dr. Bhujanga Shetty, Dr. Sujatha Rathod, Dr. Balasubramaniam Kumar, Dr. Ravi, Dr. Pradeep Rangappa, and many others. As of now, 97 patients have been detected with the disease while four of them have died in the state.

Speaking to media persons, Sudhakar said, "Those who have uncontrolled diabetes, cancer, organ transplantation, HIV infection and get corona infection and take steroid, will have chances of getting Black fungus. But people don't need to worry about this. The nose, throat, and ear should be tested. All doctors should look after such people. It is Notified Disease. It should not be kept private and it should be informed to government."

"Black fungus is a post-covid complication and those who have uncontrolled diabetes and use a high dosage of steroids are vulnerable to this disease. Those who undergo organ transplantation and those with immunocompromised conditions like HIV are also likely to contract this. Such category of people should be more cautious," he said.

"The fungus enters through the nasal cavity in the persons with low immunity. Then it will attack eyesight. One should get treatment immediately after it enters the nose. It is learnt that the water used in humidifiers in hospitals is causing this. Experts panel has been set up to find out the exact cause of this disease. Measures will be taken after the expert committee submit its report," the minister said

"Amphotericin injection is being given for the treatment of this disease. A single patient needs 40-60 vials of this medicine. Centre has approved 1,050 vials out of which 450 vials have been supplied to our state. Also, we have placed an order for 20,000 vials. 97 people have been reported with this infection so far and they are being treated at Bowring hospital on an experimental basis," he added.

"Steroids should not be administered without the prescription of doctors. The government is not providing steroids to those in home isolation. The government is having information on persons infected with Black fungus at Private and government hospitals. Treatment will be provided to them accordingly. Both Covid and Black fungus patients are treated free of cost," he further added.

As per the Union Health Ministry, Mucormycosis or black fungus is a complication caused by a fungal infection. People catch mucormycosis by coming in contact with the fungal spores in the environment. It can also develop on the skin after the fungus enters the skin through a cut, scrape, burn, or other types of skin trauma.

The disease is being detected among patients who are recovering or have recovered from COVID-19. Moreover, anyone who is diabetic and whose immune system is not functioning well needs to be on the guard against this, said the ministry. It further stated that the disease is caused by a set of micro-organisms known as mucormycosis, which are present naturally in the environment, seen mostly in soil and in decaying organic matter like leaves, compost, and piles.

Over the few two days, Karnataka overtook Maharashtra as the state with the highest number of active Covid-19 cases (6,00,168) in the country, the Union Health Ministry informed.

So far, 15,81,457 recoveries and 21,837 deaths have been reported in the state.