Search
Close this search box.
Search
Close this search box.

‘Black Fungus’ Infections Maiming India’s COVID-19 Patients

Infection

This deadly “black fungus” affects in the body of those recovering from Covid-19 – called “black fungus” or scientific name mucormycosis. When the devastating second wave of Covid-19 infection scares the lives of many people in India, doctors alert people about a rare but dangerous fungal infection. 

Patients recovering from the coronavirus or on the way to recovery are suffering from the disease “black fungus”. This infection affects the nose, eye and sometimes the brain, BBC reports.

What kind of infection is mucormycosis?

Mucormycosis is a very rare infection. The infection occurs when exposed to a fungus called mucor mould. This fungus is usually found in soil, plants, manure and decaying fruits and vegetables.

“It is ubiquitous and found in soil and air and even in the nose and mucus of healthy people,” says Dr. Akshay Nair, a Mumbai-based eye surgeon, told BBC.

This fungus affects the sinuses, brain and lungs. People with diabetes, cancer or HIV/AIDS, or diseases that have very low immunity, have the highest risk of infection from these mucor.

Doctors say the risk of death from mucormycosis is 50%. They think the infection can start with the use of steroids. Covid-19 is now being treated with steroids to save their lives in the treatment of severely affected people.

Steroids help in reducing inflammation of the lungs in people with Covid-19. When the body’s immune system becomes overactive while fighting Coronavirus, doctors also use steroids to treat Indian coronavirus variant patients to prevent damage to various organs of the body.

But the use of these steroids also reduces normal immunity. In diabetic patients, it even increases blood sugar levels. It is believed that mucormycosis infection is caused by the body’s own immunity loss.

Who is at a higher risk of infection?

Dr. Nair works in three hospitals in Mumbai. Mumbai is one of the cities in India that have been severely devastated by the second wave of Coronavirus. He says he has already treated about 40 patients suffering from this fungus infection in April alone.

Most of them were diabetic who recovered at home after Covid-19 infection. Eleven of them had to have their eyes surgically thrown away.

Only 6 of his fellow doctors reported the infection found in 58 patients in Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Delhi and Pune. The report came in just three months from December to February. Most of them suffered from fungal infections within 12 to 15 days of the disease recovery. Total 24 cases of this fungal infection have been reported in Mumbai’s busy Sion Hospital in the last two months. 

Dr. Raghuraj Hegde presents a similar picture. In the last two weeks, he has received 19 patients with mucormycosis. Most of them are young. “Some were so sick that we couldn’t even operate on them,” he told BBC.

According to the doctors, they are very surprised by the fungal infection in the second wave of the Coronavirus and the spread of it so quickly. The fungal infection was relatively low during the first wave of Covid-19 last year.

Symptoms of black fungus

Symptoms that usually develop in patients infected with black fungus include:

  • Nasal closure and bleeding from the nose
  • Pain in the eyes and swelling of the eyes
  • Dangling eyelids
  • Blurred vision in the eyes, which then leads to loss of vision
  • Black spots around the nose skin

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Related Articles

Top Trending

Autonomous Trucks
Autonomous Trucks in 2025: Hype or the Future of Freight
lainey wilson boyfriend
Lainey Wilson’s Boyfriend: Love Story That Will Surprise You
jasmine crockett net worth
Jasmine Crockett Net Worth: Congress Representative Crockett's Impressive $9 Million in 2025
ftasiastock technology news
Breaking Ftasiastock Technology News: Supply Chain Insights Unveiled
Digital Nomad Taxes
Digital Nomad Taxes Explained: How to Legally Save Thousands in 2025

LIFESTYLE

Smart Skincare
What Smart Skincare Looks Like in a World of Overload
Swim Academy in Amman
How to Choose the Right Swim Academy in Amman?
Shopping in Madrid
Shopping in Madrid: From Exclusive Boutiques to Vintage Markets: A Shopping Lover's Guide
how long does dermaplaning last
How Long Does Dermaplaning Last? All About Dermaplaning Duration
Selling Used Designer Handbags
10 Expert Tips for Selling Your Used Designer Handbags for Top Dollar

Entertainment

lainey wilson boyfriend
Lainey Wilson’s Boyfriend: Love Story That Will Surprise You
jasmine crockett net worth
Jasmine Crockett Net Worth: Congress Representative Crockett's Impressive $9 Million in 2025
Justin Bieber Reacts Hailey $1 Billion Rhode Deal
Justin Bieber Reacts to Hailey’s $1 Billion Rhode Deal
victoria beckham wedding drama daughter in law
Victoria Beckham Faces Backlash Over Wedding Day Behavior
Brad Pitt Opens Up About Ines De Ramon
Brad Pitt Opens Up About Life with Ines De Ramon

GAMING

Parental Guide for Kid-Friendly Gaming
Parental Guide to Safe and Age-Appropriate Gaming for Kids
How Video Games Help Reduce Stress
Gaming for Mental Health: How Video Games Help Reduce Stress
unblocked games granny
Play Granny Unblocked: Online Game Fun With Unblocked Games Granny
PC vs Console Gaming
PC vs Console Gaming: Which One Should You Choose?
Guide to Building a Custom Gaming PC
Beginner’s Guide to Building a Custom Gaming PC

BUSINESS

ftasiastock technology news
Breaking Ftasiastock Technology News: Supply Chain Insights Unveiled
Digital Nomad Taxes
Digital Nomad Taxes Explained: How to Legally Save Thousands in 2025
AI and Drones in Last-Mile Delivery
How AI and Drones Are Revolutionizing Last-Mile Delivery in 2025
Tokenomics
What Is Tokenomics? A Beginner’s Guide to Crypto Economics
Nearshoring Services
Key Factors to Evaluate When Selecting Nearshoring Services

TECHNOLOGY

Anthropic Launches Voice Chat for Claude Mobile Users
Anthropic Launches Real-Time Voice Chat for Claude Mobile Users
Instagram Story Viewer Tools
Instagram Story Viewer Tools That Actually Work in 2025
Protect Yourself from Data Breaches
How to Protect Yourself from Data Breaches?
AI Portraits
Retro Royalty: Design AI Portraits of Imaginary Kings and Queens
Protect Teenagers From Online Scams
How to Protect Teenagers From Online Scams?

HEALTH

How Video Games Help Reduce Stress
Gaming for Mental Health: How Video Games Help Reduce Stress
Meaning in the Everyday
Moments that Change: Do We See the Meaning in the Everyday?
Tighten Your Skin After Losing Weight
5 Ways to Tighten Your Skin After Losing Weight
Physician Contract Negotiations
What Are the Common Red Flags in Physician Contract Negotiations?
Who Benefits Most from In-Home Care Services
Who Benefits Most from In-Home Care Services