Mucormycosis cases on decline in Punjab

Nitin Jain

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, July 27

In line with the downward trend of Covid cases and deaths, the incidence of mucormycosis — commonly known as black fungus — has also touched a record low in Punjab, the government has confirmed.

The state recorded only 22 cases of the rare fungal infection among the post Covid patients last week from July 13 to 19, which was one seventh than 155 patients registered in the state between May 25 and 31 when the government had notified mucormycosis disease, the official figures have revealed.

In Ludhiana, 149 cases of black fungus and 19 deaths due to the disease were reported till Tuesday, of which 65 patients and 11 deceased were from other districts. On Tuesday, only 22 patients of black fungus were under hospitalisation in the district, after a fresh case was reported here on Monday.

The data compiled by the Health and Family Welfare Department, which is available with The Tribune, showed that the black fungus cases have been on a constant decline since May 31. From 155 between May 25 and 31, the cases of mucormycosis dropped to 103 between May 1 and 7, and further dipped to 61 between June 6 and 21.

While the incidence rose to 84 between June 15 and 21, the cases again started declining and were 47 between June 22 and 28, further coming down to 39 between June 29 and July 5 and 27 between July 6 and 12, before touching a record low to 22 between July 13 and 19.

The state-wise break-up of black fungus cases and deaths suggested that Punjab ranked 13th in the country when it comes to total cases, under treatment, cured and deaths. Punjab recorded 654 total cases so far, of which 328 are under treatment, 199 cured and 51 have since died.

Maharashtra topped the country with the highest of 9,406 cases of black fungus, of which 2,654 are under treatment, 5,432 cured and 1,146 deaths, followed by Gujarat 6,772 total cases, 626 under treatment, 4,780 cured and 661 deaths; Tamil Nadu 4,132 cases, 2,207 under treatment, 1,503 cured and 339 deaths; Andhra Pradesh 3,959 cases, 1,010 under treatment, 2,601 cured and 272 deaths; Karnataka 3,590 cases, 2,429 under treatment, 631 cured and 313 deaths; Rajasthan 3,461 cases, 2,598 under treatment, 540 cured and 178 deaths; Telangana 2,559 cases, 2,534 under treatment, 12 cured and 4 deaths; Uttar Pradesh 2,304 cases, 1,284 under treatment, 751 cured and 237 deaths; Madhya Pradesh 2,272 cases, 879 under treatment, 1,247 cured and 142 deaths, Delhi 1,751 cases, 912 under treatment, 538 cured and 265 deaths; Haryana 1,667 cases, 676 under treatment, 673 cured and 245 deaths; and Bihar 772 cases, 94 under treatment, 503 cured and 138 deaths.

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