All govt & pvt hospitals in Assam to report suspected & confirmed cases of Black Fungus to health deptt

May 26: In the backdrop of detecting a suspected Mucormycosis (Black Fungus) case in a hospital of Assam and in view of a large number of similar cases reported from other parts of the country, the Assam government has taken certain precautionary measures. In this regard, the state health ministry issued a notification on Tuesday.

The notification stated that Mucormycosis (Black Fungus) cases have significant risk of mortality and there is a likelihood of increase in number of such cases In the near future. Mucormycosis was also declared as a notifiable disease under Section 2 of the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 by the Union Ministry of Health. As such, all Government and private health facilities, Medical Colleges will follow guidelines for screening, diagnosis. management of Mucormycosis (Black Fungus) issued by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Govt of India and Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

In this connection, Assam government stated, “It is hereby made mandatory for all the health facilities, both govt. and private, and Medical Colleges to report all suspected and confirmed cases to the Health& Family Welfare Department at the district level via concerned Joint Director of Health Services and subsequently to IDSP surveillance system.” Further, the notification stated, “The IDSP Surveillance system will upload the required data concerning Mucormycosis to the Covid portal www.covid19.nhp.gov.in.”