Black Fungus

With the second wave of COVID-19 ravaging the country, handicapping the health facilities of the country and medical professionals struggling with the rising cases of corona virus, another threat is looming by the name of Black Fungus(Mucormycosis). Talk about double trouble!

What is it?

Mucormycosis is a very rare fungal infection affecting 1 in 10,00,000 people, with a mortality rate of around 50%. Caused by a fungus called mucor, this disease is characterized by hyphae growing around blood vessels and can be lethal for people with diabetes or less immunity.

What are the Symptoms?

Even though this disease is not contagious, but with the increased usage of steroids to treat COVID-19 cases and reduced physical activities puts people at a higher risk. Some of the symptoms that are seen in people with this infection are:

• Black/Bloody phlegm discharge (or nasal blockage)
• Numbness or swelling
• Blurred vision, eye pain
• Loosening of teeth, jaw involvement
• Blackish discoloration over the bridge of nose/palate
• Chest pain, formation of blood clot

Is it a new epidemic?

With growing cases of the Black Fungus Infection, the Centre on Thursday, 20th May urged states to declare it an epidemic by making it a notifiable disease under the Epidemic Diseases Act 1897. Maharashtra is the worst hit, followed by Haryana. States like Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Odisha and the union territory of Chandigarh declared it an epidemic. People already in despair with losing their loved ones to the corona virus and the danger of another epidemic knocking on the doors, the future looks really bleak and uncertain.