Lucknow: Black fungus kills four more patients; all had diabetes

LUCKNOW: Mucormycosis or black fungus has claimed the lives of four more patients who had successfully beaten Covid-19. However, during the course of treatment, they acquired the lethal fungal infection. All four deceased patients had diabetes. While three of them were women—a 40-year-old from Rae Bareli, a 52-year-old from Ayodhya and a 50-year-old from Lakhimpur—a 37-year-old man from Hardoi was the fourth victim.

They had contracted the infection during treatment in other hospitals before being referred to King George’s Medical University (KGMU). The patients were admitted in advanced stage of the disease when the infection had already reached their brain and lungs, said Prof Sudhir Singh, KGMU spokesperson.

With this, black fungus toll in the city has reached seven. It is a rare infection, but with high mortality rate. Meanwhile, three more mucormycosis patients were admitted to KGMU, taking the number currently under treatment here to 35 and overall in the city to 45. Ten patients are being treated in other hospitals. KGMU’s ENT department has conducted surgeries on six patients.

“We have removed tissues damaged by the mucor in the internal area of nose, eyes and sinus cavities of patients to save their lives. Once the infection reaches the brain or lung, it becomes fatal,” said Prof Veerendra Verma, faculty in the ENT department.n Doctors said black fungus affects Covid-19 patients who are diabetic and on steroids for a long period. Steroids are given to Covid-19 patients with severe lung infection.