Jamshedpur, May 21: Tata Main Hospital (TMH) has witnessed three deaths due to Mucormycosis or black fungus. A total of seven patients suffering from black fungus were admitted at the hospital out of which three died. The hospital is also facing shortage of medicines required for treatment of the disease. However, experts are of opinion that the black fungus infection is primarily affecting people who are recovering from Covid-19. Compared to the first wave of coronavirus pandemic, there have been more cases of Black Fungus in the second wave, doctors have noted. As per health experts, this spreads through the nose and affects other parts of the body such as the eyes. People with diabetes are said to be more vulnerable to the infection.
Mucormycosis, also called black fungus, is a rare infection caused by exposure to mucor mould found in soil, plants, manure and decaying fruits and vegetables. This infection usually affects the lungs, the nasal tract and the sinus of the patient and has a fatality rate of 50 per cent, say doctors.
While the deadly fungus was less likely to get transmitted from one person to another, doctors say that it was occurring in Covid patients who had to be administered high doses of steroids during treatment.