SRINAGAR: In a notification that the Jammu and Government issued on Monday Mucromycosis disease was declared as an epidemic. The same notification interestingly barred all institutions and persons from spreading “any information or material for the management of Mucomycrosis” without prior permission from Directors of Health Services in Kashmir and Jammu. It does not exclude media.
“No person/institution or organization will use any print/electronic or any other form of media for Mucormycosis without prior permission from Director Health Services, Jammu/Kashmir,” the notification reads.
The notification (So 182 dated May 24, 2021) signed by Commissioner Health, Atal Dulloo, said any violation of the order and disobeying will invite the action under Section 3 of the Epidemic Diseases Act. “Any person/institution or organisation disobeying these regulations or order issued under these regulations shall be deemed to have committed as (an offence punishable under section 188 of India Penal Code (45 of 1860),” the notification said under penalty clause. The notification has a clause that make officials immune from any legal action taken under this notification.
The notification came at a time when the expectation was the government will announce the systems and process for the management of the disease of which not many cases have been reported across Jammu and Kashmir. The notification has elaborate details about the committee that would sit over the black fungus information at the district level ad how it will exercise the powers that the notification gives to the government officials.
On the management side, however, the notification has said: “All the Government and private health facilities, Medical Colleges will follow the guidelines for screening, diagnosis, management of Mucormycosis, issued by the MoHFW(GoI/ICMR/Government of Jammu and Kashmir as amended from time to time and make it mandatory for all these facilities to report suspected and confirmed cases to Health Department through District Level Chief Medical Officers and Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP).”
