As many as 129 cases of black fungus have been reported from the State so far while a total of 18 people have succumbed to the disease.
Ganjam and Khordha districts have reported 21 cases each while eight cases of infection were detected in Baleswar. Public Health Director Dr Niranjan Mishra said, “Presently, the situation is under control as only one or two cases of the disease are being reported. Till now only 12 people have recovered from the infection but there is no reason to worry since the recovery of patients takes a lot of time. Besides, the number of cases and fatalities in Odisha is comparatively low,” Mishra said. The State Government on May 21 declared the Black Fungus infection a 'notifiable disease' under the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 after reporting of the first case of mucormycosis on May 10. A State-level task force committee has also been constituted for early detection and management of such cases.