Delhi hospitals have 197 black fungus cases, including non-residents
Health Minister Satyendar Jain on Friday said there were 197 cases of black fungus in hospitals across Delhi till Wednesday night, including non-residents who have come to the city for treatment. The minister also said many inoculation centers for the 18-44 age group are being shut in Delhi from Friday as the city has run out of vaccines for this age group.
Majority of vaccination centers for 18-44 group shutting down
Delhi had exhausted its COVAXIN stock many days ago. Covishield doses, too, have been consumed. Many centers are being shut today, Jain said. There were 197 cases of black fungus across all hospitals in Delhi till Wednesday night. These included patients who have come from other states for treatment, he told reporters.
Acute shortage of Amphotericin-B injections
Jain said there is an acute shortage of Amphotericin-B injections used in the treatment of black fungus or mucormycosis in the entire country. The Centre is likely to provide 2,000 injections to Delhi, which will then be given to hospitals. He also cautioned COVID-19 patients against taking steroids without any advice from the doctor.
Black fungus mostly affects those with low immunity
"This is very dangerous. A patient's immunity becomes zero when he/she takes steroids. Black fungus, which is found in soil or decaying matter inside homes, doesn't affect healthy people. Chances of infection are more in those with low immunity," he said.
Delhi can declare black fungus an epidemic: Kejriwal
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday had said the government will declare black fungus an epidemic if the need arises. He had also said dedicated centers will be set up for treatment of mucormycosis at three city government-run hospitals, Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital, Guru Tegh Bahadur Hospital, and Rajiv Gandhi Super Speciality Hospital.
'Steroids and sugar leading to increased cases of mucormycosis'
The combination of steroids and sugar is leading to a rise in the number of black fungus cases, the chief minister had said. The Union Health Ministry has urged states and Union territories to make black fungus or mucormycosis a notifiable disease under the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897, stating that the infection is leading to prolonged morbidity and mortality among COVID-19 patients.
