Karnataka reports 1,784 cases of black fungus, treatment may come under ABArK scheme

Mangalore Today News Network

Bengaluru, Jun 05, 2021:      Karnataka has recorded 1,784 cases of black fungus or mucormycosis in Covid-19 patients, said health and medical education minister Dr K Sudhakar on Saturday, adding that 62 patients have recovered from the disease so far.

 

Active cases of black fungus in the state stood at 1,564. About two to three weeks of treatment is necessary and it takes about five to six weeks for complete recovery. There have been 111 fatalities due to the fungal infection, said the minister.

Karnataka has sufficient stocks of medicine to treat black fungus 9,750 vials of Amphotericin B drug have been allocated to the state by the Centre, 8,860 of these were received on Friday. “So far we have received 18,650 vials, 8,860 vials have been given to government hospitals and 9,740 vials have been provided to private hospitals,” informed Dr Sudhakar.

This comes in the wake of the Karnataka high court directing the state and Union governments to ensure that there is no shortage in supply of the critical drug, after an advocate wrote a letter to the chief justice highlighting the scarcity of the drug in the state.

BLACK FUNGUS TREATMENT UNDER ABARK

The government is considering including black fungus treatment in the Ayushman Bharat Arogya Karnataka (ABArK) scheme for people falling under the low income and lower middle-class group.

Dr Sudhakar stated that special centres are being set up in hospitals to monitor post-Covid complications and treatment. Doctors are also being trained about post-Covid complications.

“Not everyone who recovered from Covid will have complications. Only those who are administered a high dosage of steroids and undergo prolonged ICU treatment may face complications. But all these can be treated and cured,” added the minister.

Amid the second Covid wave, the state has witnessed a sharp surge in cases of mucormycosis, a rare but serious fungal disease that happens if a fungus called mucormycetes enters the body through breathing or skin injuries.

‘EVERYONE TO BE FULLY VACCINATED SOON’

In terms of vaccine roll-out, 70-75 lakh people will be given the jab in the month of June. About 1.5 crore doses have been administered in the state so far. By the end of June, about 2.25 crore people would have received at least one dose of vaccine in Karnataka. The state health minister assured that everyone would be vaccinated soon.

“The second wave may subside in state by the end of June. But we need to continue to follow precautions,” said Dr Sudhakar. He also remarked that opposition parties should refrain from politicizing the issue of vaccination.

Courtesy:India Today