Awareness on Covid-19 and Covid Associated Mucormycosis During Second Wave in India

BACKGROUND
COVID-19 is a viral pandemic disease reported from 222 different countries in the world. Although government agencies of various countries are responding to the suggestions of medical experts, public understanding of the nature of the disease is necessary to control the disease. Moreover, Covid associated mucormycosis (CAM) is found to emanate as a secondary infection in countries such as India. Therefore, this study was done to evaluate the awareness of COVID-19 and Covid associated mucormycosis.
METHODS A questionnaire designed using google form was used to assess the public’s awareness about the airborne nature of the virus, Covid associated mucormycosis, and the government’s efforts in combating the disease.
RESULTS
About 690 people responded to the questions and among them 78 % were females and 21 % males. The age of the respondents ranged from 17 to 70 yrs. Nearly 69.5 % of the respondents believed that the virus was airborne. Although 89 % of respondents correctly stated that India was experiencing the second wave of COVID-19, yet majority of them could not make the same statement about other countries like the UK and the USA. Naming the mucormycosis as the black fungus had reached 88 % of the respondents. Nearly 60 % of the general public were satisfied with the government's initiatives in providing medical facilities.
CONCLUSIONS The study provides the public's understanding of Covid-19 after the second wave of Covid-19 and Covid associated mucormycosis in India. The research provides inputs to the Indian government and the governments of Indian states to further raise public awareness on controlling the disease.
KEY WORDS
COVID -19; Airborne virus; Covid Associated Mucormycosis; Black fungus, India.