9 more black fungus cases at KGMU

LUCKNOW: Nine more cases of black fungus infection — mucormycosis — were reported at King George’s Medical University (KGMU) on Saturday taking the tally to 17 since March.
Among the nine cases, three patients have been referred from other hospitals after being diagnosed with the black fungus infection, while five developed the complication at their homes. One patient developed symptoms during treatment at the IDH ward of KGMU.
With the nine new cases, the number of mucormycosis patients undergoing treatment at KGMU right now has gone up to 13. Of these, seven also have Covid-19, while others had recovered from the novel coronavirus infection and are admitted in the post-Covid ward, including one in intensive care unit, for black fungus treatment.
KGMU spokesperson Dr Sudhir Singh said that barring the patient in ICU, all others are stable.
A senior faculty member told TOI that the patient in ICU has undergone a surgery in which ENT experts removed all the dead tissue.
Mucormycosis, a rare infection caused by a group of molds called mucormycetes, affects the sinuses, brain, and lungs and can be life-threatening in diabetics or severely immunocompromised individuals.
In Covid-19 patients, it generally occurs due to weakened immunity after prolonged use of steroids, said doctors.