Deadly ‘Black’ Fungal Disease has started killing people in India; while nation crosses 1 crore COVID cases
While the country is still under the grim shadow of the coronavirus pandemic, another deadly disease outbreak has put the Indian Medical Authorities on HIGH ALERT.
The black fungus infection has been identified as Mucormycosis that occurs when you have a weakened immunity due to illness or health condition, which happens when one tests positive for Covid-19.
As the infection spreads, it paralyses muscles around the pupils of the eye, leading to blindness. If the fungal infection spreads to the brain, the patient can get meningitis that can also lead to loss of sight and removal of nose and jaw bone.
“Early clinical suspicion on symptoms such as nose obstruction, swelling in the eye or cheeks, and black dry crusts in the nose should immediately prompt a biopsy and start of the antifungal therapy as early as possible,” said Dr Manish Munjal, Senior ENT surgeon at SGRH in Delhi.
Cases are being recorded in almost all major cities especially in Delhi, Mumbai, and Ahemdabad. As per media reports, about 50 cases of Mucormycosis detected in Ahemdabad, at least nine patients have died with infections resulting in blindness for some people.
Delhi’s Ganga Ram Hospital has also came across several new cases while atleast 5 have died due to Mucormycosis in people who have recovered from the coronavirus in recent past and termed it as COVID-19-triggered Mucormycosis.
The disease although rare, is spreading at a faster unnatural speed with a mortality rate of 20%. The authorities have suggested to carry on similar precautions just as the COVID19 even if you’re cured.
On the other hand, India’s Covid-19 tally crossed the 1 crore milestone including 95,50,712 recoveries and 3,08,751 active cases. The Covid-19 death toll has also surged to 1,45,136.
