Bhubaneswar, May 20: Odisha government today declared Mucormycosis also known as Black Fungus as an epidemic under Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897.

Earlier on May 14, the Health department has constituted a state level committee in view of the reported rise in the incidence of Mucormycosis among Covid-19 patients.

As per the notification of the department, Prof. Dr. Nirupama Chaini of SCB Medical College will be the chairman of the committee. The other members of the committee are , Prof. Dr. Jyoti Pattnaik, Prof Pulmonary Medicine SCB, Prof. Dr. Jayanta Kumar Panda, HOD of Medicine SCB, Prof. Dr. Subhabrata Parida, HOD Medicine SCB, Prof. Dr. Subrat Debora. HOD ENT SCB, Prof. Dr.Prasanjit Mohanty , HOD. Dermatology SCB and Dr. Niranjan Mishra, Director, Public Health.

The committee will monitor the incidence of Mucormycosis in patients admitted to different hospitals in the state and formulate a guideline for early detection and management of such cases if detected.