The health department will declare mucormycosis (black fungus) as a reported disease to identify and track emerging cases in the state, said Anil Kumar Singhal, chief secretary for health, medicine and family welfare. The state has reported nine such cases so far, he said.
Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Mr Singhal said that mucormycosis has been added to the list of diseases eligible for treatment with Aarogyasri and that all teaching hospitals and private hospitals with facilities to treat such cases have been given permission.
Mr Singhal said that in addition to the allotment made by the central government, the state will also publish tenders for the purchase of medicines necessary to treat the disease, adding that steps to detect the presence of the infection early will be followed by the public health department be taken.
Once all hospitals have been declared a reported disease, they should be required to provide details of how the disease is identified and treated.
Fever poll
Mr Singhal said over 91,000 people were identified with a fever and other COVID-19 symptoms during the three-day fever survey, which was conducted across the state. He said all cases will be followed up and the affected teams will take further action.
Mr Singhal said doctors hired for telemedicine have reached more than 24,000 people in the past 24 hours, including patients who have isolated themselves at home who were identified in the fever survey. He said that over 50,000 patients over 104 will be reached in the next two to three days.