Only three mucormycosis cases in 10 days, lowest so far

Nitin Jain

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, September 25

Only three cases of mucormycosis – commonly known as black fungus – were reported in the state during the first 10 days of this month, the lowest-ever 10-day count so far, the government has confirmed.

The incidence of the serious but rare fungal infection caused by a group of molds called mucormycetes has touched a record low 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 just three cases of black fungus among the post-Covid patients from August 31 to September 9, which was 1.93 per cent of the highest-ever 155 count reported in a week between May 25 and 31 after the government had notified mucormycosis disease.

In Ludhiana, 162 cases and 19 deaths due to black fungus were reported till Saturday, of which 73 patients and 11 deaths were from other districts. On Saturday, only one active case was under hospitalisation in the district. Black fungus cases were on a constant decline since June 28.

From 155 between May 25 and 31, 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 seven between August 3 and 16, and touching a record low of eight between August 17 and September 9.

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

The state recorded 686 total cases so far, of which 115 were under treatment, 460 cured, and 52 have died at the case fatality rate (CFR) of 7.58 per cent.

Maharashtra continues to top the country with the highest of 10,139 cases of black fungus, of which 1,252 were under treatment, 7,362 cured and 1,336 deaths, followed by Gujarat 7,109 total cases, 301 under treatment, 5,369 cured, and 708 deaths, Andhra Pradesh 4,773 cases, 575 under treatment, 3,720 cured, 399 deaths, Tamil Nadu 4,482 cases, 1,199 under treatment, 2,815 cured, 443 deaths, Karnataka 3,906 cases, 1,038 under treatment, 1,951 cured, 458 deaths, Rajasthan 3,621 cases, 2,085 under treatment, 1,154 cured, 209 deaths, Telangana 2,638 cases, 2,612 under treatment, 13 cured, four deaths, Uttar Pradesh 2,477 cases, 766 under treatment, 1,304 cured, 324 deaths, Madhya Pradesh 2,370 cases, 275 under treatment, 1,924 cured, 167 deaths, Delhi 1,947 cases, 564 under treatment, 977 cured, 351 deaths, Haryana 1,764 cases, 590 under treatment, 829 cured, 268 deaths, Bihar 825 cases, 18 under treatment, 615 cured, 150 deaths, and Chandigarh reported 708 cases, 115 under treatment, 460 cured, and 52 deaths.

The situation of Punjab was much better than its neighbouring states and Union Territory of Chandigarh. While Punjab ranked 14th, Rajasthan stood at 6th, Delhi 10th, Haryana 11th, and Chandigarh 13th position in terms of total cases and deaths due to black fungus in the country.

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