Telangana government declares mucormycosis as notifiable disease

HYDERABAD: Telangana government on Thursday notified ‘mucormycosis’ infection commonly known as black fungus infection as a notifiable disease under the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897, a day after Rajasthan declared it a notified disease.
Infact the decision comes close on the heels of the state government designating two hospitals as nodal centres for treatment of the infection and on the same day when the centre has asked states to notify the disease.
“Fungal infection mucormycosis is hereby declared as a notifiable disease under the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897. All government and private health facilities shall follow guidelines for screening, diagnosis and management of mucormycosis issued by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India and the Indian Council of Medical Research. It is also made mandatory for all government and private health facilities to report all suspected and confirmed cases to the state health department,” read the order from the director public health, Telangana state.
Medical superintendents of all government and private hospitals have been directed to ensure strict compliance and send daily reports to the health department. Meanwhile, the number of cases of mucormycosis continue to surge in the state and the government ENT Hospital Koti is nearly full capacity now.