India's fight against COVID-19 has been difficult for months, but with the appearance of black fungus and a shortage in drugs to treat the infection, the situation is becoming more bleak.
Health Authorities: Shortage of Amphotericin B
Some Indian states have seen a shortage in antifungal drug amphotericin B, which is used for treating mucormycosis, also called black fungus.
States including Telangana, Maydhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Delhi have appealed for faster deliveries of the drug used to treat the rare infection that had already been moderately rampant in the country before the pandemic.
Senior state health official at Maharashtra, Dr. Tatyarao Lahane, said supplies of amphotericin B were already on the way but there was an initial shortage due to the unexpected rise of infections in the state.
Maharashtra has recorded around 2,000 cases of black fungus so far, and at least 52 people have died from the infection. The western state is also one of the hardest-hit by COVID-19 in India.
State health minister Rajesh Tope said there are now "very few districts" where black fungus cases have not been recorded.
Diabetes could be a Key Player
Mucormycosis is the disease triggered by fungi under the "Mucorales" fungal family. Usually found in soil and decaying organic material, mucorales fungi infect damaged tissues and people with weak immune systems.
COVID-19 has left many recovering patients with an impaired immune system.
However, diabetes has also become a central topic among researchers and medical experts who have been looking into India's current black fungus situation.
Even before the pandemic, diabetes has been prevalent in India. Many cases are uncontrolled, leading to acidic tissues and high blood sugar. Acidic environments make for the perfect breeding ground for Mucorales fungi.
In a recent study of COVID-19-associated mucormycosis, researchers found that in 67% of the cases, diabetes was uncontrolled.
Intervention is critical to diabetic people who get infected with black fungus, experts said. However, many infections have been diagnosed late in the past, raising concerns about further delayed diagnosis in patients during India's COVID-19 battle.
Black Fungus Now an Epidemic in Rajasthan
Meanwhile in Rajasthan, nearly 100 people have been infected with black fungus, pushing the state government to declare the infection as a pandemic.
The government said the declaration was made to ensure that black fungus and COVID-19 patients receive coordinated treatment.
As part of the efforts to hopefully curb new black fungus infections, the government has set up a separate ward for infected patients at Jaipur's Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital.
Other states have also moved to hopefully stop further infections, with Madhya Pradesh launching a nasal endoscopy campaign in hopes of earlier detection of confirmed cases.
