Even as the second wave of COVID-19 continues in India, concerns are rising over cases of black fungus among those recovering from the viral infection.

Till 22 May, India has reported about 8,848 cases of black fungus or mucormycosis, according to a statement by Union minister Sadananda Gowda.

The Central government has sought to expedite the allocation of vials of Amphotericin-B, a key drug to treat mucormycosis, as reported by The Tribune.

Following are some key facts about black fungus —

What is black fungus infection?

As per the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, this is a rare fungal infection caused by a group of molds known as mucormycetes.

It has been seen in countries like India and China, particularly among patients suffering from diabetes, cancer, or immune compromising conditions like HIV AIDS.

Now, COVID-19 survivors — especially those having co-morbid health issues like diabetes, heart and kidney ailments and cancer — have been found to be susceptible to the disease.

As noted by an article in Firstpost, the underlying cause of the disease in India is the unhygienic way of delivering oxygen to patients in many places, combined with the indiscriminate use of steroids in the treatment of COVID.

What are the symptoms of black fungus?

The symptoms of black fungus/mucormycosis are pain/stuffiness in the nose, inflammation on cheeks, fungus patch inside the mouth and swelling in the eyelids.

Which states have been most affected by the disease?

Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Maharashtra are among the states highly affected by black fungus infections. Maharashtra tops the list among affected states with 2000 black fungus cases.

Have other countries also reported cases of black fungus?

India is not the only country facing the crisis, even as it accounts for 71 percent of the total cases worldwide.

As noted by a report in India Today, Pakistan and Russia are also seeing a surge in black fungus infections.

Russia confirmed reports of black fungus among the COVID patients on May 17, though ruling out a possibility of a person-to-person spread. It has claimed that the situation is in control.



from Firstpost India Latest News https://ift.tt/2Rz6ATa