Black fungus
India, cases, 9,000
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-57217246
Mortality rate, 50%
Most cases 12 to 18 days after CoViD recovery
Gujarat and Maharashtra and 15 more states
(All 29 states have been told to declare an epidemic)
Maharaja Yeshwantrao Hospital, Indore
Last week, 8 patients
Last weekend, 185 patients
More than 80% need surgery immediately
Hospital has set up 11 wards, 200 beds to treat black fungus
(400 sufferers in Indore)
Dr VP Pandey
This surge in patients was definitely unexpected
We used to see one or two cases a year previously
The black fungus infection has now become more challenging than Covid-19
If patients are not treated in time and properly, than the mortality rate can go up to 94%
The cost of treatment is expensive, and the drugs are in short supply
Amphotericin B or “ampho-B” anti-fungal intravenous injection
Every day for up to eight weeks
Majority of the patients had recovered from Covid-19 and were male
Most had been treated with steroids, all had underlying conditions, mainly diabetes
A separate study
100 cases of Covid-19 patients who contracted Mucormycosis
79 were men
83 were diabetic
Dr Akshay Nayar, eye surgeon
No patient of mucormycosis has normal blood sugar
Caused by exposure to mucor mould
Commonly found in soil, plants, manure, decaying fruits and vegetables
Ubiquitous, found in soil and air and even in the nose and mucus of healthy people
Sinuses, brain, lungs
Pfizer and AstraZeneca jabs effective against Indian variant (PHE)
https://khub.net/documents/135939561/430986542/Effectiveness+of+COVID-19+vaccines+against+the+B.1.617.2+variant.pdf/204c11a4-e02e-11f2-db19-b3664107ac42
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/vaccines-highly-effective-against-b-1-617-2-variant-after-2-doses
The B.1.617.2 COVID-19 variant
First detected in India in December 2020
Most commonly variant in India from mid-April 2021
Now detected, 43 countries
We estimate the effectiveness of the BNT162b2 and ChAdOx1 COVID-19 vaccines against symptomatic disease
Data on all symptomatic sequenced cases of COVID-19 in England was used
Compared to vaccination status
12,675 sequenced cases
11,621 had B.1.1.7
1,054 had B.1.617.2
Results for both vaccines were similar after one dose
B.1.617.2, 33.5%
B.1.1.7, 51.1%
Results after 2 doses of BNT162b2 Pfizer
B.1.1.7, 93.4%
B.1.617.2, 87.9%
Results after 2 doses of ChAdOx1 Oxford AZ
B.1.1.7, 66.1%
B.1.617.2, 59.8%
Interpretation
These findings suggest a modest reduction in vaccine effectiveness
A clear increase in levels of effectiveness after two doses
Rollout of second doses of ChAdOx1 was later than BNT162b2
Oxford AZ effectiveness probably increases beyond two weeks after second dose
Numbers of cases and follow-up periods are currently insufficient to estimate effectiveness against severe disease, including hospitalisation and mortality
Previous vaccine effectiveness estimates with other variants have shown higher levels of effectiveness against more severe outcomes
Therefore, higher levels of effectiveness against severe disease may be anticipated with the B.1.617.2 vaccine.
Matt Hancock
This new evidence is groundbreaking – and proves just how valuable our COVID-19 vaccination programme is in protecting the people we love.
Dr Mary Ramsay, Head of Immunisation at PHE
This study provides reassurance that 2 doses of either vaccine offer high levels of protection against symptomatic disease from the B.1.617.2 variant.
We expect the vaccines to be even more effective at preventing hospitalisation and death, so it is vital to get both doses to gain maximum protection against all existing and emerging variants.
Nadhim Zahawi
with 13,000 lives saved and 39,100 hospitalisations prevented overall
Today’s data is astounding and a true reflection of just how important it is to get both your jabs when offered.
Source