Chennai: Tamilnadu is facing another danger in the form of black fungus (mucormycosis) and the government is taking steps to address the danger in the beginning.
According to sources, special teams have been formed for the purpose and the situation is being closely monitored to take necessary and timely steps.
“People need not be scared as there is medicine for the disease. The government will launch an awareness campaign and educate Covid patients to keep their sugar level under control,” sources said.
Tamilnadu on Thursday announced that mucormycosis also known as black fungus infection is a notifiable disease.
The announcement comes after the Union Health Ministry instructed all States to announce it as a notifiable disease under the Epidemic Act.
“Currently nine people are being treated for the disease, of which six are old cases and three, new ones. Seven of them are diabetic… all are stable,” Health Secretary J Radhakrishnan told reporters.
Pointing out that the black fungus was already in existence much before the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, he said people with uncontrolled diabetes and consuming steroids and those in Intensive Care Units for a long time were more susceptible to the disease.