Chandigarh, May 27: With as many as 188 cases ofmucormycosis (black fungus) reported so far in the state, Chief MinisterCaptain Amarinder Singh on Thursday ordered ramp-up of stocks of alternatedrugs to treat the disease, in view of the shortage of Amphotericin, makingPunjab the first state in the country to make effective use of alternativemedicines to treat the disease.
With only Liposomal Amphotericin B injections in the stock,and just 880 more Liposomal expected to be received today, the Chief Ministerstressed the need to strengthen alternate drug stocks, as recommended by theExpert Group constituted by his government to deal with the crisis.
Stressing the need to ensure that every patient has a chanceto recover from black fungus, a disease reportedly caused by overuse ofsteroids in Covid patients, especially those suffering from diabetes, the ChiefMinister said that along with efforts to get more of the Amphotericin drug, thestate government has already made available the alternate drugs - Itraconazole(4000 tablets) and Posaconazole (500 tablets), as suggested by the ExpertGroup.
He also noted with satisfaction that the 6-member ExpertGroup constituted has begun its task of advising hospitals on the treatmentprotocols and the use of various drugs being supplied to them.
Health Secretary Hussan Lal said of the 188 cases, 40 were not related to Covid, while 148 wereof Covid infected persons, with 133 having been on steroid therapy and 122 onOxygen support prior to onset of mucormycosis. As many as 154 had diabetes, 56were immunocompromised, and 47 comorbid. A total of 156 are currently undertreatment, 9 have been cured while 23 have died.
The state government’s Covid Expert Group head, Dr KKTalwar, said help was being taken from foreign specialists to deal with theproblem. Two sessions with national and international experts had been held toset protocols, and patients were being closely monitored and organised helpbeing provided to them, he added.
Giving details of the confirmed cases of black fungusreported till date in the government hospitals, Medical Education Secretary DKTiwari disclosed that the maximum of 16 cases had come to light at GMC Patiala,followed by GMC Amritsar (10), GMC Faridkot (8) and GMC Mohali (2).