After the second wave of coronavirus seems to be declining slowly, the black fungus cases have seen a huge spike in India lately. 

Also known as mucormycosis, it is a fungal infection that has emerged as a post-Covid complication, mainly patients treated with steroids and having diabetes.

© iStock

The rate of increasing cases is alarming. Pertaining to this, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi took to Twitter to pose some questions to the central government about their strategy to tackle the black fungus crisis. 

© Twitter

He put up three questions about how the government plans to deal with the black fungus. This included the plan of action to deal with the shortage of Amphotericin B drug and the process to make these drugs available to the patients. The last question he shooted was why is the Modi Government entrapping the public in formalities, instead of giving treatment?

Black fungus महामारी के बारे में केंद्र सरकार स्पष्ट करे-

1. Amphotericin B दवाई की कमी के लिए क्या किया जा रहा है?

2. मरीज़ को ये दवा दिलाने की क्या प्रक्रिया है?

3. इलाज देने की बजाय मोदी सरकार जनता को औपचारिकताओं में क्यों फँसा रही है?

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) June 1, 2021

Here’s what Twitter users had to say about the situation of black fungus and the three questions asked by Gandhi.  

11,700 cases of black fungus disease, had been identified in India. Going by this number, the required number of vials for the six-week therapy would be over 29 lakh. Even with imports and boost to domestic production, what will be available could be way below what is required,

— KUMUD MISHRA (@KUMUDMI48005094) June 1, 2021

Rahulji, this is rare decease, medecine requirement and stock is minimum in normal time,
It's June now.
GOI is working since beginning of May.
BSV, BDR, Sun, Cipla & life care are working on production.

Please ensure there is no black marketing of this.
Find some other issue.

— apurva parikh (@apurvaparikh18) June 1, 2021

YOU can ask such questions to Doctors who have expertise in treating BLACK FUNGUS.
CENTRE has already explained via media about the availability & manufacture of AMPHOTERICIN B. Where were you then?
It's an injection & everyone is aware of ,it can be intramuscular or intravenous.

— PN Singh (@PNSINGH131312) June 1, 2021

Centre is yet to announce any policy against black fungus, while cases of white fungus and yellow fungus are already being reported. pic.twitter.com/2r8vxEn809

— Rofl Republic (@i_the_indian_) June 1, 2021

Amphotericin-B drug treats the nose, eyes and brain which is affected by the black fungus. 

It is being observed that severely ill Covid patients who were given steroids or oxygen supply as part of the treatment are prone to being infected by mucormycosis.   

© Reuters/Danish Siddiqui

Last week, India crossed more than 11000 cases of the rare infection while five states namely Maharashtra, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Telangana accounted for 65% of cases in the country.

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