Black Fungus Rising In COVID Survivors: Infection In Maharashtra, Gujarat, MP, Odisha Fuel Fear

A growing number of current and recovered Covid-19 patients in India are contracting a deadly and rare fungal infection, as the country battles to contain a massive outbreak of virus in the second wave.

Mucormycosis, dubbed "black fungus" by doctors in India, is usually most aggressive in patients whose immune systems are weakened by other infections.

Medical experts said they had seen a rise in cases in India in recent weeks, while the health ministry on Sunday released an advisory on how to treat the infection.

Eight COVID survivors die of black fungus in Maharashtra

At least eight COVID-19 survivors have died due to mucormycosis, a fungal infection, during treatment in Maharashtra, while a total of 200 such patients are being treated.

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According to Dr Tatyarao Lahane, who heads the Directorate of Medical Education and Research (DMER), cases of mucormycosis are on the rise.

"Eight out of 200 such patients treated so far in various parts of the state have died due to mucormycosis, also known as a black fungus. They survived COVID-19 infection but the fungal infection attacked their weak immune system which proved fatal," Dr Lahane told PTI.

Odisha reports first case of 'black fungus'

Odisha has detected its first case of mucormycosis or 'black fungus' in a 71-year-old COVID patient with a known history of uncontrolled diabetes.

The patient, a resident of the Jajpur district, was admitted to a leading private hospital in the state capital.

Nasal endoscopy of the patient showed black deposits on turbinate, stated a report by ENT surgeon Dr Radha Madhab Sahu.

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"The patient has contracted mucormycosis or black fungus from old water in an air cooler and fungus growth in the damp pad. The infection was during the home isolation and not in the hospital," the report said.

Fungal infection found in patients in Hyderabad

Doctors at a leading healthcare facility in Hyderabad have come across COVID-19 positive patients who are suffering from mucormycosis, a deadly fungal infection, and a silent killer.

In the past 3-4 weeks, a total of five patients have been reported with this infection at Continental Hospitals, indicating rise in the condition among the COVID-hit, the hospital said on Monday.

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According to doctors, prolonged hospitalisation and continuous use of corticosteroids, which has become standard for Covid-19 treatment, is resulting in lowering the immune system. This could lead to susceptibility to infections like mucormycosis causing irreversible damage to organs and threatening life of infected patients.

Cases in Madhya Pradesh

In Madhya Pradesh too, fungal cases are reportedly on the rise.

State capital Bhopal has reported at least seven cases, six in state-run Hamidia hospital while one patient is admitted to a private hospital in the city.

Gandhi Medical College in Bhopal has started preparing for establishing a ward of 20 beds for the black fungus cases.