Raipur: After Delhi, Maharashtra, Telangana and Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Black Fungus or Mucor-mycosis infection has been reported in Covid-19 patients of Chhattisgarh also. Altogether there are more than 15 cases of black fungal infection reported in the state.
Altogether 15 patients having black fungal infection admitted in AIIMS till Wednesday, told Public Relations officer of AIIMS Raipur to FPJ over phone. These include some referral cases, he added.
Meanwhile, Chhattisgarh State Epidemic Control Director Dr. Shubash Mishra said, around 8 cases have been so far reported in the state earlier. The doctors are directed to treat the patient in medical colleges and government hospitals. Government has also instructed the concerned authorities to ensure the availability of the medicines in the government hospitals; even separate special wards will be made for the treatment of black fungus infected patients, Dr. Shubash Mishra said.
Eye Specialist Dr. Dinesh Mishra said, as far as cases the number is quite low. Despite lower rate of infections, the persons having lower immunity such as Covid positives or patients who just recovered from Covid, taking steroids may get infected and develop black fungus infection.
Its treatment is a little bit complex and quite expensive, and may be fatal if detected at later stages, Dr. Dinesh Mishra said.
Early treatment can cure the patients, so the person who got pigmentation or feel quick loss of sight immediately consult a doctor and get medication, the eye specialist doctor said.
Just after the cases of fungal infection became the talk of town, Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh took the matter seriously and issued instructions of all the hospitals of the state to keep the stock of the essential medicines used in to treat the disease.
Regarding his instructions, Chief Minister Office (CMO) also made an official tweet.
But unfortunately, before the Food and Drug Control Department issued instructions and guidelines to the Stockists, medicine sellers and hospitals regarding the maintenance of at least essential minimum stock, an artificial shortage of anti-fungal medicine Posaconazole and injection of Liposomal Amphotericin B or LAmB occurred in the state.
As for the sources, one stockists of Raipur who had 700 vials of the injection of Liposomal Amphotericin B, found his stock exhausted this week.
Observing the seriousness of the problem, Chhattisgarh State Food and Drug Control Directorate issued an instruction on Wednesday and asked all the medicine dealers and stockists to submit daily reports of the desired medicines to the department.
Sources within the government expressed their concern over artificial shortage of the LAmB injection and said, someone wanted to black-market the medicine and seeking opportunity in adversity.
On the issue, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Raipur, Ajay Yadav said, till the time we have not received any complaints of blackmarketing of the desired injection, however I will alert the police team to look after any such suspicious activity.
