Karnataka: Mucormycosis turns fatal, 303 deaths in the state; 34 per cent fatalities from Bengaluru

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KEY STORY

  •  Declared as an epidemic in India under the Epidemic Diseases Act, mucormycosis or Black Fungus, has so far claimed over 300 lives in Karnataka. According to reports, those who have died had survived COVID-19 but succumbed to the fungal infection. 303 deaths have been recorded in the state so far. Of which, 104 fatalities were from Bengaluru.
  • Till July 9, a total of 3,491 patients have contracted the fungal infection in Karnataka with a fatality rate of 8.6 per cent. Bengaluru alone has recorded 1,109 cases – the highest in the state – followed by Dharwad with 279 cases, Vijayapura and Kalaburagi having 208 and 196 cases, respectively. While the state capital, Bengaluru, reported the highest number of fatalities, Kalaburagi recorded 23 deaths and Dakshina Kannada witnessed 20 deaths.
  • Unlike India, in other countries, mucormycosis is not seen as a post-COVID complication. Even in India, it is largely restricted to a few states which include – Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Gujarat. Most of the deaths that occurred in May and early June were reportedly due to the acute shortage of anti-fungal medicine, Liposomal Amphotericin B drug.
  • It may be noted that the patients who were diagnosed with mucormycosis required 5-7 doses of anti-fungal medicine a day. However, several patients were only given one dose of medicine once in 2-3 days.

CONCLUSION

  • According to a doctor, the anti-fungal drug was unavailable initially. However, the drug situation eased up only in mid-June. “On the presumption that the medicine is better available in government hospitals, many patients were shifted from private to government hospitals,” said the doctor, adding that if timely treatment is not given to a patient, then mucormycosis can prove to be nearly 100 per cent fatal, reported The Times of India.
  • On one hand, exposure to COVID-19 was a common factor. However, on the other hand, there was not much clarity on what actually led to the fungal infection. According to health experts, many factors like high sugar levels, steroid usage, and a possible effect of Delta variant of COVID-19, were suspected to have contributed to this infection.

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