Govt declares Black Fungus as notifiable disease under epidemic Act

Odisha Government has declared mucormycosis Black Fungus infection as a Notable Disease under the Epidemic Disease Act, 1897.

The State Health and Family Welfare Department issued a notice in this regard on Thursday informing that it has included Mucormycosis or Black Fungus Infection as a Notifiable Disease under Section-2 of the Epidemic Disease Act 1897.

Earlier, the Union Health Ministry had appealed to all states and Union Territories (UTs) to declare mucormycosis or Black fungus as a notifiable disease. The Ministry had further advised that all government and private health facilities as well as medical colleges, should follow guidelines issued by the Ministry and the ICMR on screening, diagnosis and management of mucormycosis.

As per sources, Odisha detected the first case of mucormycosis in the state on May 10. Till date, 11 infections have succumbed to cardiac arrest.