Odisha Sets Up 7-Member Committee To Monitor Black Fungus

Bhubaneswar: Worried over rising cases of Mucormycosis or Black Fungus amongst COVID 19 patients, the Odisha government on Friday constituted a seven-member state-level committee to monitor such cases.

The committee headed by Dr Nirupama Chaini, Prof & HOD of Microbiology, SCB medical college and hospital will monitor the incidences of Mucormycosis in patients admitted to different hospitals in the State and formulate a guideline for early detection and management of such cases.

"Reports of Black Fungus infection have been detected in patients on Corticosteroids and other immunosuppressive drugs and also amongst patients in the post COVID period across our State," the State Health Department said.

"All Government Medical College in the state will constitute an expert committee each comprising of members from department of Medicine, Pulmonary medicine, Dermatology, ENT. Ophthalmology and neurology (if available) for co-ordination, diagnosis and management of such cases," the health department letter said.

Moreover, all Government Medical College will create facilities for detection and management of such cases in the Department of ENT and Ophthalmology for RT-PCR negative/Post COVID patients.

The active COVID 19 patients when detected to have Mucormycosis will continue to get treatment with support of ENT and Ophthalmology faculties / consultants.

The members of the committee:

I. Prof. Dr. Nirupama Chaini', Prof & HOD of Microbiology, SCB,MC (Chairman)

2. Prof. Dr. Jyoti Pattnaik. Prof. Pulmonary Medicine, SCB,MC (Member)

3. Prof. Dr. Jayanta Kumar Panda. Prot & HOD of Medicine, SCB.MC (Member)

4. Prof. Dr. Subhabrata Parida. Prof & HOD Medicine, SCB,MCH (Member)

5. Prof. Dr. Subral Bohora, Prof & HOD ENT, SCB,MC (Member)

6. Prof. Dr.Prasanjit Mohanty, Prof. HOD, Dermatology, SCB.MC (Member)

7. Dr. Niranjan Mishra, Director, Public Health, Member Convener