3,200 Black fungus cases recorded in Maharashtra: State govt to Bombay High Court

The Maharashtra government on Thursday informed the Bombay High Court that the state has so far recorded 3200 cases of Mucormycosis also known as Black Fungus a serious infection being found in Covid19 patientsAs against Maharashtras requirement of 14000 vials per day the state was receiving only 4000 to 5000 doses each day the states counsel Advocate General Ashutosh Kumbhakoni told the courtHe said there were very few manufacturers of antiMucormycosis drugs and injections hence there was a shortage across the countryAlso Read Pune 564 patients undertreatment for mucormycosis 27 died so farThere are 3200 cases of Mucormycosis as of now in the state It has been declared a notified disease so when the healthcare establishment receives a patient they have to inform public health officials so at the statelevel we can have complete data of patients he told the HCAs the data available on May 26 Mumbai has recorded 335 cases of Mucormycosis so far the state informed a bench of Justices Amjad Sayyad and G S KulkarniThe bench was hearing a bunch of public interest litigations PILs seeking proper management of issues related to the Covid19 pandemicKumbhakoni and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporations BMC advocate senior counsel Anil Sakhre informed the court that they were keeping records and maintaining data of such casesThe state also said it had developed an online portal to maintain records of Mucormycosis cases and medicines available for the infectionKumbhakoni said there were very few manufacturers of antiMucormycosis drugs and injections hence there was a shortage across the countryThe Centre has identified only three manufacturers to produce antiMucormycosis injections he said adding a patient on an average requires four to five vials per dayAs against Maharashtras requirement of 14000 vials per day the state was receiving only 4000 to 5000 doses each day Kumbhakoni saidThe state had tiedup with the Haffkine Pharma to manufacture the drug in the state to meet the demand he saidMaharashtra has started inhouse manufacturing of antiMucormycosis injections It takes 20 days to have the finished product We completed the procurement of raw material on Wednesday Kumbhakoni saidBy June 6 the state should have a comfortable demandsupply position he saidThe Union governments counsel Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh told the HC that the Centre had issued a detailed advisory on prevention and dos and donts for MucormycosisAn expert task force is working on this The states most affected by the black fungus are Maharashtra Karnataka and Gujarat The supply of injections to these states will be increased by midJune Singh saidSeveral factors such as comorbidities low immunity and indiscriminate use of steroids were resulting in the rise in cases of Mucormycosis he saidThe HC then suggested that the Centre issue a protocol on prescription and use of steroids for treating Covid19We want a protocol as there is an indiscriminate use of steroids the bench saidThe court also directed the state government and BMC to use technology to improve the condition of crematoriums and to construct more electric and gas crematoriumsWhat about facilities technology electric crematoriums handling the bodies in a scientific manner the HC askedThe court directed the state to inform it about the steps being taken in the matter on the next date of hearingFortunately we do not have incidents like other states where bodies are floating in the Ganga river Kumbhakoni saidNot a single person has been denied a decent burial or cremation in the state on account of lack of space hesaidThe high court will continue the hearing on June 2This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever