28,252 CASES OF BLACK FUNGUS LOGGED DURING 2ND WAVE: GOVT

NEW DELHI: India has reported about 28,252 cases of mucormycosis, a fungal infection, following the second wave of Covid-19, Union health minister Harsh Vardhan said on Monday while chairing the 28th meeting of the group of ministers (GOM) on the pandemic.

Mucormycosis, often also referred to a black fungus infection, is an opportunistic infection that is believed to be taking hold in people with suppressed immunity. Experts are trying to understand why there has been a spurt in cases, and suspicion has fallen on overuse of steroids and immunosuppressants as well as uncontrolled diabetes during Covid-19. “Twenty eight states have reported 28,252 cases of mucormycosis till now, out of which 86%, that is 24,370 cases, are having a history of Covid-19. Around 62.3% cases, that is about 17,601, are having history of diabetes. We have the maximum number of cases from Maharashtra (6,329), followed by Gujarat (5,486), and then MP, UP, Rajasthan etc,” he said.

The health ministry also said that close to 30,000 Covid-19 samples have undergone whole genome sequencing in 10 laboratories that are a part of the INSACOG network. Genome sequencing is a process that helps scientists understand if and how the virus has mutated.

VK Paul, member (health), Niti Aayog said India took 141 days to deliver 230 million doses, which remains the second highest in the world after the US. “Out of 88.7 crore people who have been administered at least one dose globally, India accounts for 17.9 crore, which is 20.2% of the global coverage,” said Paul.