Hubballi: Minister for Major and Medium Industries Jagadish Shettar on Monday expressed concern over the spread of Black Fungus in the North Karnataka region.

Speaking to newsmen here yesterday, the Minister said that the Black Fungus disease is spreading faster than the expectation in North Karnataka Districts of Dharwad, Belagavi, Gadag, Haveri, and Karwar and all efforts are being made to secure more Anti Fungal Medicines to control the disease.

Currently, there are a total of 102 active Black Fungus cases undergoing treatment in Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) Hospital in Hubballi of which 20 are from Dharwad and the rest are from above North Karnataka Districts, he said.

Shettar said that in addition to the supply of 100 vials of injections of anti-Black Fungus medicines Liposomal Amphotericin B to KIMS in Hubballi, the State Government is trying to directly import the above medicines and added that additionally necessary medical equipment to operate on Black Fungus patients is also being purchased.

He was speaking at an official review meeting on the starting of the agricultural activities given the good monsoon rains in Dharwar at the Glasshouse here.

Concerning the supply of Liquid Medical Oxygen (LMO),  Shettar, who is also in-Charge for procuring LMO in the State, said that currently there is no shortage of oxygen with Jindal, the main Oxygen producer in the State, resuming the filling operations at its plant in Ballari after a break, plus 190 Metric Tonnes of LMO coming daily from Odissa to Karnataka.