There were 40,845 reported cases of Mucormycosis or widely black fungus during the second wave of Covid so far, nearly 85% of which have been seen as in coronavirus patients while the fungal disease has already claimed 3,129 lives. Mucormycosis, is a rare fungal disease that has reached epidemic proportions over the last few days, is said to be fuelled by the use of steroids, compromised immunity, and diabetes in Covid patients. The disease has caught attention as it has a high mortality rate and manifests itself severely through stark symptoms on the face, lungs and brain and often requires complicated surgeries.
Addressing a meeting of the group of ministers on Covid-19, Union health minister Harsh Vardhan apprised the members on the trajectory of Mucormycosis infections that occurred coinciding with the recent surge in Covid-19 cases.
Of the 40,845 cases reported, 31,344 cases are rhinocerebral in nature, he said. “Of the total numbers, 34,940 patients had Covid (85.5%), 26,187 (about 64.11%) were co-morbid for diabetes while 21,523 (52.69%) of those infected were on steroids,” he added. Among other concerns related to Covid-19, the health minister also spoke about the Delta plus variant. He informed the GoM that the Delta Plus variant has been categorised as a “variant of concern” and its attributes are being investigated in detail. Intensive surveillance is being carried out wherever its presence has been detected, the minister said, adding that districts of 12 states where the variant has been detected are being monitored.
“Scientists are right now studying its (Delta Plus) impact on disease transmission, severity, immune escape and other effects. It is also being cultured in labs and its effect on the vaccine is being studied,” the minister said. An additional representative number of samples targeting Covid cluster cases with re-infection, vaccine breakthrough cases, super spreader events and high mortality clusters are also being sent for genome sequencing.
In the state of Punjab, seventy-six percent of patients infected with mucormycosis are above the age of 45. The state has not reported even a single confirmed case among minors, data available with the state health department shows. Till Friday morning, a total of 343 people were diagnosed with the fungal infection in Punjab, of which 261 are undergoing treatment in hospitals across the state, while 23 have been cured. Also, 49 of the 343 patients have died.
According to the state health department, 84 of the total infected patients are in the age group of 18 to 44, while 132 are in the 45 to 60 age group. Also, 126 senior citizens in the 60+ age group were also found infected with the fungal infection in Punjab.
Besides, a suspected patient has also been reported in Punjab in less than 18 age group category.
Hussan Lal, principal secretary, health, Punjab, said: “Most of the people infected in the state with mucormycosis are above the age of 45 as most of them are either diabetic or immunocompromised. Fungal infection is mostly attacking the diabetic patient and 45-plus age group is most vulnerable. Also, among the 49 deceased people, majority of them were above the age of 45 and were suffering from diabetes and had Covid-19 history.”
During the meeting, ICMR director general Balram Bhargava underlined that the second wave has still not subsided as 80 districts still have high positivity. The official, therefore, advised against any laxity at this stage while assuring that the existing Covid vaccines have been found effective against the Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Delta variants.
