Dr MV Padma Srivastava, Head of the Department of Neurology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), said that Delhi is reporting over 20 cases of Black Fungus i.e., Mucormycosis disease on a daily basis.

Dr Padma said that mucormycosis infection was seen in patients who are immunocompromised, diabetic, or on high steroid dose, but it was never in this high number. Earlier the number was in single-digit, but has crossed the three-digit mark and are getting above 20 cases every day. They have made mucor wards separately at AIIMS Delhi, AIIMS Jhajjar and AIIMS Trauma Centre.

She further said that the index of suspicion of contracting this Black Fungus infection is very high due to low immunity. If diabetic people are infected with COVID-19, then sugar levels should be strictly controlled and use of steroids should be rational.

Cases of mucormycosis were reported 2 months ago and Gujarat and Maharashtra till now have reported over 1,800 cases. Delhi has started reporting a high number of these cases and it is seen in maximum of those patients who were on high doses of steroids or were diabetic.

Max hospitals throughout India have reported 50 cases of mucormycosis, and in Delhi alone, the numbers of cases are 25.

Dr Padma said that COVID-19 strain could be the reason and they have to do genome sequencing to understand this disease more in detail. Dr DS Rana, Chairperson of Sri Gangaram Hospital, said that the hospital has admitted almost 48 Black Fungus patients and 16 patients are in the waiting list.

This rare fungal infection is on the rise in several parts of India, including Delhi. According to the Union Health Ministry, Mucormycosis or black fungus infection is a complication that is caused by a fungal infection.

People get infected with mucormycosis infection by coming in close contact with the fungal spores that are in the environment. The fungal infection can also develop on the skin as the fungus enters the skin through a scrape, cut, burn, or any type of skin trauma.

Source: ET Healthworld