New Delhi: The government on Tuesday said that till July 15, a total of 45,432 cases of mucormycosis have been reported in various states and union territories of the country, out of which 21,085 affected people are undergoing treatment while 4,252 people have died.
Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya in a written reply to a question said that a large number of mucormycosis patients (84.4 percent) were suffering from COVID-19 in the past.
The cases of mucormycosis increased after the second wave of covid and the health ministry after extensive analysis and consultation have taken several steps to address the problem.
Mucormycosis and other fungal infections are more common in people who have low immunity and suffer from diseases like diabetes, cancer.
Mandaviya said that however, this is not a new disease. The health ministry had in May requested states to declare mucormycosis as a notified disease under the Epidemic Diseases Act to get an objective assessment of the disease.
