{"id":11831,"date":"2021-05-27T15:23:41","date_gmt":"2021-05-27T09:53:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nerising.in\/?p=11831"},"modified":"2021-05-27T16:55:49","modified_gmt":"2021-05-27T11:25:49","slug":"what-is-black-fungus-why-did-the-assam-govt-declare-it-as-a-notifiable-disease","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/northeastrising.in\/test\/what-is-black-fungus-why-did-the-assam-govt-declare-it-as-a-notifiable-disease\/","title":{"rendered":"What is Black Fungus? Why did the Assam Govt declare it as a notifiable disease?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Assam, May 27:<\/strong> The Assam\u00a0Government, on Tuesday, announced Mucormycosis or the Black Fungus infection, as a notifiable disease under Section 2 of the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1807.<\/p>\n

The decision was taken by the Health and Family Welfare Department amid a rampaging surge in COVID-19 cases.<\/p>\n

“All Government and Private Health Facilities, Medical colleges will follow guidelines for screening, diagnosis, and the management of Mucormycosis, issued by the Ministry of Health and FW, Govt of India, and the ICMR<\/strong>,” an official statement said.<\/p>\n

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What Is Black Fungus:<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n
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Mucormycosis<\/strong>\u00a0(previously known as Zygomycosis) is a serious but rare fungal infection caused by a group of molds known as micromycetes. Rhino-orbital-cerebral-mucormycosis (ROCM) is caused by molds of the order Mucorales.<\/p>\n

In this, there are a few subgroups like Rhizopus, Mucor, Rhizomucor which are most commonly involved in this infection.<\/p>\n

These fungi are angioinvasive i.e, they invade the surrounding blood vessels and destroy them resulting in tissue necrosis and death. These molds live throughout the environment and their spores are present in the air. They get lodged in the nasal cavity and adjoining sinuses.<\/p>\n

Mucormycosis is a very rare infection. It is caused by exposure to mucor mould which is commonly found in soil, plants, manure, and decaying fruits and vegetables. “It is ubiquitous and found in soil and air and even in the nose and mucus of healthy people<\/strong>,” says Dr Nair.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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It affects the sinuses, the brain and the lungs and can be life-threatening in diabetic or severely immunocompromised individuals, such as cancer patients or people with HIV\/AIDS.<\/p>\n

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Doctors believe mucormycosis, which has an overall mortality rate of 50%, maybe being triggered by the use of steroids, a life-saving treatment for severe and critically ill Covid-19 patients.<\/p>\n

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Also Read<\/span>:<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0COVID-19 patient succumbs to \u2018black fungus\u2019 in Assam<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/h5>\n
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Symptoms of Mucormycosis:<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n

Respiratory-related symptoms include<\/span>:<\/strong><\/p>\n