Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain said
on Friday that Delhi hospitals had a total of 197 black fungus cases till
Wednesday night, including those who have come from outside the city for
treatment, reported PTI.

“There were 197 cases of black fungus
across all hospitals in Delhi till Wednesday night. These included patients who
have come from other states for treatment”, PTI quoted Jain as saying.

He added that there was an acute shortage
of Amphotericin-B injections, which are used to treat black fungus, formally
known as mucormycosis, across the country, noting that the Centre was likely to
provide 2,000 of these injections to Delhi from Friday.

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Meanwhile, the Delhi health minister said that the
city had exhausted its stock of vaccines for those between 18 and 44 years, and
hence will be shutting down many vaccination centres for the age group on Friday. “Delhi had exhausted its Covaxin stock many days
ago. Covishield doses, too, have been consumed. Many centres are being shut
today”, he was quoted as saying.

While speaking about the black fungus
infection, the minister warned citizens against the use of steroids without the
doctor’s advice.

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“This is very dangerous. A patient’s
immunity becomes zero when he/she takes steroids. Black fungus, which is found
in soil or decaying matter inside homes, doesn’t affect healthy people. Chances
of infection are more in those with low immunity,” he said.

On Thursday, Chief Minister Arvind
Kejriwal had said that the city government will be terming black fungus an epidemic
if ever the need arises.