Man dies in Bathinda hospital, 71 infected in Punjab so far
Doctors say there is shortage of Amphotericin-b, the injectable drug required to treat the disease
BATHINDA/LUDHIANA: Covidtriggered mucormycosis or black fungus infection is rising in Punjab. So far, 71 people have been infected with the disease and two have lost their lives.
Ludhiana has reported 30 such cases, the highest in the state, followed by nine each in Amritsar and Jalandhar, eight in Patiala, six in Mohali, three in Bathinda, two each in Muktsar and Ferozepur and one each in Sangrur and Kapurthala.
The South Malwa belt of the state reported its first black fungus death, second in the state, on Friday when a 62-year-old Covid patient of Gidderbaha town of Muktsar district died of the infection at Adesh Medical College and Hospital in Bathinda. Muktsar civil surgeon Dr Ranju Singla said the patient underwent eye surgery after developing black fungus and later succumbed to fungus-related complications.
“Black fungus has actually emerged as a pandemic within a pandemic. There is a shortage of Amphotericin-b, the injectable drug required to treat the disease,” said a senior health official. Bathinda has reported three cases, two each in Muktsar and Ferozepur.
Sangrur man dies in PGI
A 32-year-old man from Sangrur died of the disease at PGIMER, Chandigarh, on May 16. “The district has reported only one case of black fungus so far,” said civil surgeon Dr Anjana Gupta.
Ludhiana worst-hit
Ludhiana has 30 confirmed and six suspected cases of black fungus, said civil surgeon Dr Kiran Ahluwalia. Sixteen patients are admitted to Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, six in SPS Hospital, four in Deep Hospital, two in Christian Medical College and Hospital and one each in Mohan Dai Oswal and Fortis Hospital.
Nine cases in Amritsar
Amritsar has reported nine cases of black fungus. “These patients were infected or have recovered from Covid and their condition is stable.,” said Amritsar civil surgeon Dr Charanjit Singh. Jalandhar deputy medical commissioner Dr Jyoti Sharma said seven patients suffering from of black fungus are under treatment while two have been referred to other districts. One case has been detected in Kapurthala district on Friday, said the health authorities.
8 infected in Patiala
Of the eight cases in Patiala, four were reported in Government Medical College and Rajindra Hospital and others in private hospitals in the past one week. Civil surgeon Dr Satinder Singh said there are two suspected cases in private hospitals and their samples have been taken.
Health dept plays down rise in cases
Even as the district authorities are confirming rise in cases of black fungus, the state health department say only three cases have been reported from across Punjab so far. “Punjab has three cases of black fungus to date. While two cases are confirmed, one more suspect case has been reported on Friday,” said state’s nodal officer for Covid-19 and black fungus Dr Rajesh Bhaskar. He said district administrations have not yet reported to the state headquarters about the presence of large number of cases.
First black fungus patient in J&K dies
JAMMU: Jammu and Kashmir on Friday recorded first death due to black fungus. A 40-year-old patient suffering from mucormycosis was admitted to Government Medical College and Hospital in Jammu succumbed today, said financial commissioner Atal Dulloo.