Make mucormycosis notifiable disease under the Epidemic Diseases Act: Centre to States

The Union Health Ministry on Thursday urged the state governments to make mucormycosis a notifiable disease under the Epidemic Diseases Act 1897. The ministry asked all the States to follow guidelines for screening, diagnosis, management of mucormycosis, that have been issued by MoHFW and ICMR.

Mucormycosis or Black fungus is a severe fungal infection that is being reported among COVID-19 patients. The overuse of steroids, especially in COVID-19 patients with comorbidities like diabetes, is said to be one of the reasons for surge in black fungus cases in India.

Many states, including Karnataka, Uttarakhand, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, and Andhra Pradesh, have reported cases of mucormycosis. 

The Telangana government has already declared Black Fungus a  notifiable disease under Epidemic Diseases Act 1897. 

The act, which was first approved to tackle the bubonic plague in Mumbai, provides special powers that are required for the execution of measures to control the spread of diseases.