Nagaland declares mucormycosis or black fungus as epidemic

Our Correspondent
Kohima, May 22 (EMN): In view of mucormycosis (black fungus) cases being reported across the country, especially among immune-compromised and Covid-19 patients on treatment with steroids, the government of Nagaland on Saturday declared it as an epidemic.

It came two days after the Union Health Ministry directed all the states and union territories to notify mucormycosis under the “Epidemic Diseases Act”.

In order to reduce morbidity and mortality due to mucormycosis and on account of its serious nature, in exercise of the powers conferred under Section 2 of the Epidemic Diseases Act 1897, the Governor of Nagaland is pleased to make ‘Nagaland Epidemic Diseases (mucormycosis) Regulations 2021’ and come into force immediately and remain valid for one year, read the notification from Health department.

The department directed all government and private healthcare facilities to report each suspected and confirmed case of mucormycosis to the respective chief medical officer (CMO) on a daily basis or as subsequently modified and prescribed by the principal director (PD) of Health and Family Welfare. CMOs should compile and submit the district report to PD on a daily basis, it stated. 

All the government and private healthcare facilities have been urged to follow the guidelines for screening, diagnosis, and management of mucormycosis, issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Indian Council of Medical Research and state government, and amended from time to time.

Further, private and government healthcare facilities have been asked to submit complete patient records in case of deaths due to mucormycosis through the respective CMO to the PD within 24 hours of the event. “PD may prescribe a format for reporting such deaths,” it added.

It also warned persons or institutions against publishing or circulating rumours or unauthenticated information regarding Covid-19 through any print or electronic media.

“All other provisions of the Epidemic Diseases Act of 1897 and its Amendment, 2020 should be applicable in any matters relating to mucormycosis infection,” read the notice. “No suit or legal proceedings should lie against any person for anything done or intended to be done in good faith under these regulations”.