Chennai: Tamilnadu has reported 518 cases and 17 deaths related to mucormycosis (black fungus), a notified fungal disease infecting people across the country.
Health Minister M Subramanian said that Government Hospitals in Chennai areĀ setting up separate wards to treat mucormycosis cases.
In Chennai’s Omandurar Government Hospital, a separate ward for black fungus with six beds was inaugurated.
He added: “We have also set up an expert panel of doctors consisting of ENT surgeons, Ophthalmologists, maxillofacial surgeons, etc. to advise the government on black fungus cases. There are 13 doctors who are doing this. Further, a separate ward at Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital for black fungus will also be set up.”
He did not rule out the possibility of this fungus coming from contaminated water or the industrial oxygen supply lines. “The 13 member task force for mucormycosis will find the source of this infection,” Subramanian said.