Ludhiana district on top even as no black fungus case in past 15 days

Nitin Jain

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, October 5

No case of mucormycosis — commonly known as black fungus — was reported in the state during the past 15 days, the first time so far, the government has confirmed.

Figures at a glance

• Total cases: 688
• Punjab: 615
• Other states: 73
• Under treatment: 104
• Cured: 473
• Deaths: 52

The incidence of the serious but rare fungal infection caused by a group of molds called mucormycetes has vanished in the state in line with the downward trend of Covid cases, official figures have revealed.

The data compiled by the Health and Family Welfare Department, which is available with The Tribune, showed that the state recorded no case of black fungus among the post-Covid patients since September 21, which was the first blank fortnight since May 25 when the government had notified mucormycosis disease.

The state had recorded the highest-ever 155 count in a week between May 25 and 31.

Ludhiana, however, continues to lead the state with a maximum of 161 cases and 19 deaths due to black fungus till date, of which 73 patients and 11 deaths were from other districts. On Tuesday, no active case was under hospitalisation in the district.

The black fungus cases were on a constant decline since June 28.

From 155 between May 25 and 31, the cases of mucormycosis dropped to 103 between May 1 and 7, and further dipped to 57 between May 8 and 14.

While the incidence rose to 84 between June 15 and 21, the cases again started declining to 46 between June 22 and 28, coming down to 39 between June 29 and July 5, and 22 each between July 6 and 12, July 13 and 19, dipping to 12 between July 20 and 26, slightly rising to 13 between July 27 and August 2, further dipping to 7 between August 3 and 16, touched a low of 8 between August 17 and September 9, another low of two cases between September 10 and 20, and a record of no new case since September 21 till date.

The state-wise break-up of black fungus cases and deaths suggested that Punjab fared better than Chandigarh (13th) and Haryana (11th) and ranked 14th in the country when it came to total cases, under treatment, cured, and deaths.

Punjab recorded 688 total cases so far, of which 104 were under treatment, 473 cured, and 52 have since died at the case fatality rate (CFR) of 7.56 per cent.

The district-wise count indicated that Amritsar reported 64 cases, four deaths, 15 under treatment, 45 cured; Barnala 14 cases, four deaths, six cured; Bathinda 55 cases, four deaths, seven under treatment, 39 cured; Faridkot 15 cases, one death, one under treatment, 11 cured; Fatehgarh Sahib nine cases, one death, one under treatment, seven cured; Fazilka 16 cases, two deaths, one under treatment, 10 cured; Ferozepur 17 cases, one death, two under treatment, 12 cured; Gurdaspur 29 cases, three deaths, eight under treatment, 16 cured; Hoshiarpur 25 cases, one death, four under treatment, 20 cured; Jalandhar 55 cases, six deaths, seven under treatment, 40 cured; Kapurthala 13 cases, two deaths, two under treatment, nine cured; Mansa 29 cases, no death, two under treatment, 25 cured; Moga 11 cases, no death, two under treatment, seven cured; Pathankot six cases, one death, four cured; Patiala 33 cases, two deaths, four under treatment, 24 cured; Ropar one case, one cured; Mohali 13 cases, no death, four under treatment, nine cured; Sangrur 33 cases, one death, seven under treatment, 21 cured; Nawanshahr nine cases, one death, four under treatment, four cured; Muktsar 37 cases, two deaths, four under treatment, 24 cured; and Tarn Taran 19 cases, two deaths, four under treatment and 13 cured. Besides, 73 cases, six deaths and eight under treatment, 55 patients of mucormycosis from other states were cured in the state.

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