Horror outbreak of Covid-induced BLACK FUNGUS that rots off limbs and doubles death rate
AN outbreak of a deadly black fungus that rots Covid patient’s limbs and doubles death rate has been detected in Delhi.
Doctors in the state have said patients who contract the killer infection only have a 50 per cent survival rate.
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The infections, known as mucormycosis, have resulted in loss of eyesight and some patients have had to have their nose and jawbones removed.
The hospital in Delhi is seeing more cases of the black fungus due to the increasing number of patients with Covid-19.
Dr Manish Munjal, senior ENT surgeon at the Sir Ganga Ram Hospital told The Independent: “We are seeing a rise again in this dangerous fungal infection triggered by Covid-19.
“Last year, this deadly infection caused high mortality with many patients suffering from the loss of eyesight and the removal of the nose and the jaw bone.”
Doctors in Delhi, the epicentre of the Covid spread in India, said the rise of Covid patients falling ill with black fungus was flagged last year when 12 cases were seen in just 15 days.
WHAT IS MUCORMYCOSIS?
Mucormycosis is the name used for any fungal infection caused by a group of molds called mucormycetes.
These molds live throughout the environment. Mucormycosis mainly affects people who have health problems or take medicines that lower the body’s ability to fight germs and sickness.
According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say symptoms vary depending on where the fungus is growing.
Symptoms of rhinocerebral (sinus and brain) mucormycosis include:
- Headache
- One-sided facial swelling
- Nasal or sinus congestion
- Black lesions on nasal bridge or upper inside of mouth that quickly become more severe
- Fever
Symptoms of pulmonary (lung) mucormycosis include:
- Fever
- Cough
- Chest pain
- Shortness of breath
Symptoms of gastrointestinal mucormycosis include:
- Abdominal pain
- Nausea and vomiting
- Gastrointestinal bleeding
There have been six cases of mucormycosis in the past two days at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital and cases are being reported in other hospitals.
In many it affects the brain, sinus or eyes but can be found anywhere in the body.
The fungus attacks individuals with low immune systems or decreased blood sugar levels, according to Dr Gaurav Kumar, a resident doctor at Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital.
It typically poses no serious threat to patents with a healthy immune system.
It is also more prevalent in Covid patients who patients who are on ventilatory support.
The country is suffering a Covid mutant “tsunami” with bodies being burned 24 hours a day.
New virus super-mutants are ravaging the country, which is fighting the “world’s worst” coronavirus outbreak.
India could hit a grim milestone of one million coronavirus deaths by July as mutant variants tear through the country.
According to a prediction from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, the worst case scenario could see India’s death toll top one million by July.
But even by the research centre’s forecast based on current conditions, India is still on course to hit more than one million Covid deaths by August.
The IHME believes in the worst case scenario, by July 1 the total number of fatalities from Covid will be 1,021,200, while “current projection” is that 961,692 deaths would have been recorded by this date.
By August 1, however, these figures increase to 1,121,974 and 1,018,878 respectively.
