BLACK FUNGUS

Black fungus has reached epidemic proportion and spread to the entire country, The worst hit is Maharashtra with 90 deaths followed by Haryana. So far Goa has reported 12 cases of black fungus. This is caused by excessive use of steroids in covid-19 patients. Particularly those who have acute diabetes. The total number of cases in Maharashtra till the May 20 was 1,500 with the equal number of cases in Gujarat. The other major states affected are Telangana and Madhya Pradesh. Many states including Goa are facing the shortage of Lipsomal Amphotericin B which is the most common drug used to fight black fungus. It affects the jaws and can even damage the brain. There has been only one death so far in Goa. The Dean of the GMC has assured that he would supply the stock of the Amphotericin B to private hospitals on request. The Center is planning to notify black fungus under the epidemic act.

HC DIRECTIVE

THE Goa bench of the Bombay High Court which continued the hearing of the public interest litigations on Monday, May17 directed the State to prepare for the third wave of Covid-19 which experts are warning about and which will target the very young children. The government has been asked to make all beds at the GMC’s super specialty block ready for use for patients. So far only 350 of the 550 bedded block is being used for  covid patients.

The Court has directed the government not to use excuses like “in case it is required… we have to be prepared for the third wave… the only question is within how much time it should be made operational. Don’t go into the theory of in case it is necessary. If some beds are unoccupied than it is a happy situation. Let’s not have a situation where there are more patients then beds.”

VAX SHORTAGE

THERE is  a severe shortage of vaccine both in public and private hospitals in Goa. The government is using Covaxin for the 18-45 years age group. However, senior citizens who have already taken the first dose of Covishield in private hospitals like the  Manipal, have no assurance that they will get the second dose and when. When I called up the person concerned, she told me that Manipal did not have Covisheld in stock any more.

The Central vaccination strategy allots 25% of doses produced in India for the private sector. But an analysis reveals that even in some of the biggest cities the private centres cannot be made operational for want of stocks of vaccines. Private hospitals  in Maharashtra and Delhi received less than 1% of the  vaccine stock promised. During the proceedings of the Goa bench of the Bombay High Court the judges themselves confessed that though they tried three times to get a vaccine slot they were unable to do so. Counsel for petitioner Akash Rebello remarked that getting a slot was like playing Russian roulette.  

VACCINE RECORD POOR

THOUGH the Serum Institute of India is  considered the largest manufacturer of vaccines and India the pharmacy of the world, its record in providing vaccines has been very poor compared to the rest of the world. Though India is responsible for 40% of the global covid cases and 30% of the  deaths vaccination is less than 10% and that to with one dose.

In contrast the US has vaccinated 46% of its population and this is perceived as having helped bring down the number of cases from 2.5 lakh at the peak to 35,000 cases. In the UK over 50% have received at least one dose. The countries with the best performance are Germany and France which have covered more than 60% of their population. The rest of the world is worried of the second wave in India will trigger a third wave in the western world.

SECOND WAVE HITS YOUNG

THE second wave of covid in Maharashtra has affected those below 30 years very badly. The statistics show that 621 people  under the age group of 30 years died between January and May 9, 2021. More complications are also being noticed with young women developing serious stages of Covid-19 requiring ventilator support. Moreover the average stay in the ICU has stretched to 14-15 days and this can cause a huge burden on the pockets of the patients including the wealthy patients.