India health officials said this week that COVID-19 patients in the country are suffering from a fungal infection that “can disfigure facial features and even kill,” according to Bloomberg.
The deadly black fungus — called mucormycosis — can injure the sinuses and lungs when it is inhaled.
It can be treated. But if it is left untreated, then it “can lead to loss of vision, and in some cases, increase the risk of mortality,” according to India Today.
Patients who have been in the hospital and ICU for a long time are at the highest risk of inhaling the fungus, according to the Indian Council of Medical Research.
“The rare but deadly infection can kill and maim patients, with some COVID sufferers losing their upper jaws and eyes after contracting it,” Bloomberg reports.
India’s continued COVID-19 crises have led to infections of the fungus because the nation has had to use medical equipment so consistently. The fungus can infect people when flowing through the oxygen tubes. The fungi has been found in hospitals in India.
The fungus was around before the pandemic. But now it is creating more cases because the country’s health care system has been stretched to the limit, according to Bloomberg.
University of Queensland professor of medicine Paul Griffin said the COVID-19 pandemic “tipped the balance” to allow the fungus to spread even more, according to Australia’s ABC.
“With the germ there in the background, it’s inevitable in a lot of ways we will see more cases (of mucormycosis) reported in India,” he said.
As India continues its war against the novel Coronavirus, another blood-curdling situation has arisen in the country. People in India are suffering from a rare fungal infection after recovering from COVID-19. Over 100 black fungus cases were detected in India's Gujarat on Saturday, May 8. The government announced separate wards for patients with infections.
A high incidence of the deadly fungal infection was reported from civil hospitals in Gujarat's Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, Bhavnagar, Rajkot and Jamnagar. The state government has decided to set up separate wards for the treatment of patients suffering from 'Mucormycosis'.
What is Black Fungus?
Many patients in Delhi and Gujarat have exhibited symptoms of Mucormycosis, which is a rare fungal infection triggered by COVID-19 also called, "Black Fungus." This infection is most likely to be seen in patients who have recovered from COVID-19 but have comorbidities such as diabetes, kidney or heart failure, or even cancer.
Doctors in India have revealed that patients with low immunity are at higher risk of having this infection. "Patients whose immune systems are compromised are at a higher risk. This could include diabetes, patients on steroids, those who have cancer and transplant patients. This infection usually impacts the sinus, brain and lungs" said Dr. Vikas Maurya, Director and Head of Department of Pulmonology, Fortis Hospital speaking of this rare disease.
Black Fungus
Black Fungus occurs mostly in patients with comorbidities .
Symptoms of Black Fungus
Face numbness, nose obstructions on one side, swelling in the eyes, or pain are the symptoms of the rare fungal infection.
Drugs, Treatment for Black Fungus
Indian medical departments are administering Amphotericin-B injections of the antifungal drug used to treat potentially life-threatening fungal infections.
Is 'Black Fungus' killing more Indians than COVID?
While the country recently reported the world's highest daily surge, India recorded 4.01 lakh cases on Saturday, taking the active caseload to over 37,23,440. In the last 24 hours, India recorded 4,187 deaths due to COVID-19 taking up the death toll in the country to 2.38 lakh. However, the nation has also recorded an alarming increase in mucormycosis cases and deaths due to the rare fungal infection, as a post COVID complication.
India's head of the Covid-19 taskforce and Niti Aayog Member (Health) V K Paul said, "The fungal infection called mucormycosis is being found in patients of COVID-19 disease. It is caused by a fungus named mucor, which is found on wet surfaces."
How does 'Black Fungus' Look Like?
Paul further clarified that even though the infection largely affects people with diabetes, it is not uncommon in those who are non-diabetic. "There is no big outbreak and we are monitoring it," said Paul, assuring that it's not a big issue.
While hospitals in India see an alarmingly high number of mucormycosis cases, it is hard to guess the exact number of deaths due to this post-COVID complication as the infection has not been categorized as a communicable disease. Reportedly, health departments in Indian states do not maintain a public record of deaths due to Black Fungal infections, unless notified by hospitals or higher medical authorities.
Deadly Black Fungus Remains Concern for COVID Patients in India
Posted on May10th, 2021.
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) issued a health advisory on May 9, 2021 regarding a fungal infection seen in some COVID-19 patients which can disfigure facial features and even kill people. Mucormycosis (previously called zygomycosis) is called the “black fungus” infection. Mucormycosis can damage the sinuses or lungs when the spores are inhaled. Mucormycosis was present in India before the COVID-19 pandemic. For people who have weakened immune systems, breathing in mucormycete spores can cause an infection in the lungs or sinuses which can spread to other parts of the body.
The rare but deadly infection can kill and maim patients, with some COVID sufferers losing their upper jaws and eyes after contracting it, according to Indian media reports. ICMR warned against overuse of steroids, indicating they could worsen the infection. The black fungus can attack through the respiratory tract.
India’s health authorities reported more than 300,000 new virus infections for the past 19 days straight. The COVID-19 variant B.1.617, which was first isolated in India, and is believed to be driving India’s second COVID wave. B.1.617 is the dominant variant in Maharashtra.
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