Telangana declares black fungus an epidemic

The government of Telangana has declared Black Fungus (mucormycosis) a disease that is mainly affecting COVID-19 recovered patients as notifiable disease under Epidemic Diseases Act 1897, an official notification said today.

All government and private health facilities shall follow guidelines for screening, diagnosis and management of Black Fungus by the union health ministry and Indian Council of Medical Research, it said.

“It is also made mandatory for all government and private health facilities to report all suspected and confirmed cases to Health Department,” the notification said.

Medical Superintendents of all government and private hospitals shall ensure strict compliance and send reports on a daily basis attached in the form of annexure to the health Department, it added.

A senior official of the Health department on Tuesday said the state has about 80 cases of Black Fungus under treatment in both government and private hospitals.

The government has entitled the Gandhi General Hospital and state-run ENT Hospital as nodal center for the treatment of Black Fungus.