New Delhi: The number of black fungus cases are on the rise in the capital. Dr D S Rana, chairperson, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital says, “At present, we have around 70 cases in our hospital. Around 50 of them are admitted, while the others are waitlisted. The cases are being seen mostly among people who are suffering from diabetes and cancer.
”According to doctors in the capital, these cases are being seen in some Covid patients who were administered steroids to treat symptoms, and particularly among those who are suffering from diabetes and cancer.
Other hospitals in the city are also seeing a rise in cases, with 25 admitted in Max Hospital branches across the city, 10 in Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, and three cases at Fortis Vasant Kunj.
As cases of mucormycosis or black fungus increase in Delhi, hospitals are facing a shortage of amphotericin B, an antifungal drug used in treatment of the rare but sometimes fatal disease.
Mucormycosis is a rare fungal infection caused by a group of moulds called mucormycetes, with symptoms such as face numbness, nose obstruction, swelling in the eye or cheeks, and black dry crusts in the nose.
In an effort to deal with the problems of procurement, the Delhi government has appointed a three-member technical expert committee to “streamline and systemise” the distribution of amphotericin-B.v
