Jamshedpur sends SOS for Amphotericin injection to state govt

Three persons died of Mucormycosis (black fungus) in Jamshedpur by Friday even as number of Covid-19 patients and deaths showed a declining trend, officials said. They also requested the state government to urgently arrange Amphotericin B injections and Posaconazole tablets to treat black fungus.

“Three persons have died of black fungus at Tata Main Hospital (TMH) so far. A total of seven cases of mucormycosis were diagnosed in TMH, of which three have died and the others are undergoing treatment,” Dr Rajan Chaudhry, Tara Steel special Covid-19 advisor, said.

The hospital has infrastructure and medical facilities to treat black fungus patients, but it didn’t have the life saving medicines, Amphotericin B injections and Posaconazole tablets, needed to treat such patients, Dr Chaudhary said. “We have written to the state government requesting them to arrange and provide us with Amphotericin B injections and Posaconazole tablets urgently. We are also trying to procure these medicines at our level but it’s hardly available in the market,” he said.

Jamshedpur reported first case of death due to black fungus on Tuesday this week.

Dr Chaudhry said diabetes and kidney patients who are administered prolonged steroids are prone to various fungal infections, including black fungus. “Report to doctors immediately if there is excessive watering of the eyes, dual and unclear vision, black spots around the eyes, dark coloured discharge from the noses,” he said.

Meanwhile, Jamshedpur reported 963 Covid-19 deaths till Thursday night.