Experts urged the government for a new committee, close observation, monitoring, reporting of cases involving black fungus among recovering and recovered Covid-19 patients to prevent the rare and dangerous infection.
Black fungus infection, scientifically called Mucormycosis and affects the nose, eyes and sometimes the brain, has been an emerging threat and matter of growing concern in neighbouring India recently.
Terming indiscriminate use of steroids to treat Covid-19 patients as a great threat to the aggressive infection, they suggested building a strong surveillance system and training specially for physicians, nurses and health staff.
Bangladesh has not reported any case of the infection from recovering and recovered Covid-19 patients so far while India has been reporting a growing number of such cases in recent times. Several states of India have also declared the black fungus as an epidemic to make it a notifiable disease.
Even, if needed, as a precautionary measure, Bangladesh can communicate with India, which formed the committee in this regard, they opined.
To stop the disease from spreading, physicians have to remove one or both eyes, or part of the jaw in some cases.
Talking to the Financial Express, Professor Muzaherul Huq, former adviser of WHO, Southeast Asia region, said the condition causes discolouration of the eyes and nose, blurred vision, chest pain, and breathing difficulties.
When such cases are reported in the country, the patients should be treated in separate management to curb the infection, Professor Muzaherul added.
Dr Md Nazrul Islam, a professor of virology who served as the vice chancellor of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), said there is nothing to be worried about black fungus.
Our physicians and health staff are now trained and they can deal with the matter smoothly, he told the Financial Express.
Government is monitoring the situation very closely, said Mr Islam, who is also a member of the National Technical Advisory Committee (NTAC) on Covid-19, suggesting that the Covid-19 patients should stop indiscriminate use of steroids and consult experienced doctors.
Dr Rashid-E-Mahbub, chairman of the National Committee on Health Rights Movement and former president of the Bangladesh Medical Association, said the NTAC on Covid-19 can work with a prevention and treatment protocol on black fungus infection.
Management should be strong to successfully prevent the deadly infection, he said, adding that coronavirus patients with diabetes and a weakened immune system are particularly prone to deadly infection.
Nazmul Islam, director of Disease Control at the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) on Sunday at a virtual press conference said the government has taken the matter very seriously to prevent the disease.
A guideline would be prepared soon to this end, he added.
