7 mucormycosis cases in Punjab from Aug 3 to 16, lowest so far

Nitin Jain

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, August 23

Seven cases of mucormycosis, commonly known as black fungus, were reported in the state from August 3 to 16, the lowest-ever 14-day count so far, the government has confirmed.

The incidence of the serious but rare fungal infection caused by a group of molds called mucormycetes has touched a record low in the state in line with the downward trend of the Covid cases, the official figures have revealed.

The data compiled by the Health and Family Welfare Department, a copy of which is available with The Tribune, showed that the state recorded only seven cases of black fungus among the post Covid patients from August 3 to 16, which was 4.51 per cent of the highest-ever 155 cases reported in a week between May 25 and 31 after the government had notified mucormycosis disease.

In Ludhiana, 158 cases and 19 deaths due to black fungus were reported till Saturday, of which 70 patients and 11 deaths were from other districts. On Monday, only 11 active cases were under hospitalisation in the district. However, no fresh case has been reported in the district since August 20.

The black fungus cases have been on a constant decline since June 28.

From 155 between May 25 and 31, the cases of mucormycosis dropped to 103 between May 1 and 7, and further dipped to 57 between May 8 and 14.

While the incidence rose to 84 between June 15 and 21, the cases again started declining and were 46 between June 22 and 28, coming down to 39 between June 29 and July 5, and 22 each between July 6 and 12, July 13 and 19, dipping to 12 between July 20 and 26, slightly rising to 13 between July 27 and August 2, and touching a record low of 7 between August 3 and 16.

The state-wise break-up of black fungus cases and deaths suggested that Punjab ranked 13th in the country when it came to total cases, under treatment, cured and deaths.

Punjab recorded 684 total cases so far, of which 236 are under treatment, 327 cured and 52 have since died at the case fatality rate (CFR) of 8 per cent.

Maharashtra topped the country with the highest of 9,878 cases of black fungus, of which 1,907 are under treatment, 6,501 cured and 1,286 deaths at 13 per cent CFR, followed by Gujarat 6,947 total cases, 415 under treatment, 5,128 cured, and 689 deaths at 10 per cent CFR, Andhra Pradesh 4,502 cases, 1,058 under treatment, 3,006 cured, 358 deaths at 8 per cent CFR, Tamil Nadu 4,308 cases, 2,047 under treatment, 1,788 cured, 370 deaths at 9 per cent CFR, Karnataka 3,765 cases, 1,209 under treatment, 1,729 cured, 411 deaths at 11 per cent CFR, Rajasthan 3,579 cases, 2,509 under treatment, 715 cured, 191 deaths at 5 per cent CFR, Telangana 2,619 cases, 2,593 under treatment, 13 cured, 4 deaths at zero CFR, Uttar Pradesh 2,407 cases, 1,162 under treatment, 957 cured, 249 deaths at 10 per cent CFR, Madhya Pradesh 2,301 cases, 707 under treatment, 1,448 cured, 142 deaths at 6 per cent CFR, Delhi 1,883 cases, 633 under treatment, 865 cured, 332 deaths at 18 per cent CFR, Haryana 1,741 cases, 591 under treatment, 809 cured, 264 deaths at 15 per cent CFR, and Bihar 800 cases, 36 under treatment, 577 cured, and 147 deaths at 18 per cent CFR.

7 mucormycosis cases in Punjab from Aug 3 to 16, lowest so far
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