Mucormycosis claims 103 lives in Andhra Pradesh

Naveen S Garewal 
Tribune News Service 
Hyderabad, June 8  

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Mucormycosis is a fungal infection, also known as Black Fungus, that has claimed 103 lives in Andhra Pradesh, Principal Secretary (Health) Anil Kumar Singhal said here on Monday.

In all, 1,623 cases of the disease were reported in the state so far, he told the media.

Though only 13,105 Liposomal Amphotericin-B injections were delivered to the state to date, they had been managing with Posaconazole injections and tablets as an alternative.

“We placed a purchase order for 91,650 Amphotericin-B injections. The Centre supplied only 13,105, of which only 1,225 are in hand now. We could so far arrange 12,250 Posaconazole injections and 1,01,980 tablets,” the Principal Secretary said.

The fungus causes blackening or discoloration over the nose, blurred or double vision, chest pain, breathing difficulties, and coughing blood. The disease has a close link to diabetes and conditions that compromise the immune system.