Rohit Shishodia

The Indian Health Ministry has asked states and union territories to make mucormycosis a notifiable disease.

A letter issued by Lav Agarwal, Joint Secretary, Indian Health Ministry to states reads, “You are requested to make mucormycosis a notifiable disease under Epidemic Disease Act 1897, wherein all government and private health facilities, medical colleges will follow guidelines for screening, diagnosis, management of mucormycosis issued by health ministry and ICMR and make it mandatory for all facilities to report all suspected and confirmed cases to health department through district level Chief Medical Officer and subsequently to IDPS surveillance system.”

Agarwal has stated that this fungal infection is leading to morbidity and mortality among Covid patients. The treatment of this fungal infection requires a multidisciplinary approach consisting of an eye surgeon, ENT specialist, neurosurgeon, general surgeon, dental maxillo facial surgeon and institution of Amphotericin B as an antifungal medicine, he added.