TORONTO As India struggles to contain a massive outbreak of the novel coronavirus, the countryâs doctors have been warned to be on the lookout for a rare and potentially fatal fungal infection that is afflicting patients with COVID-19 or those who have recently recovered. On Sunday, the state-run Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) advised doctors treating COVID-19 patients to watch for symptoms of mucormycosis or âblack fungus.â And while India hasnât released national figures on the disease, medical experts are reporting theyâve seen a rise in cases in recent weeks. In the western state of Maharashtra, where Mumbai is located, as many as 300 cases of black fungus have been detected, according to Khusrav Bajan, a consultant at Mumbaiâs P.D. Hinduja National Hospital and a member of the state s COVID-19 taskforce.
The dumped corpses have been found near the Uttar Pradesh and Bihar border
They washed up in the Ganges river, sparking a blame-game between the states
Officials in Bihar have said that it had counted 71 bodies washed up on the banks
A video has reportedly shown bodies being dumped by medical workers
Locals fear the Covid victims have not been given their sacred funeral rites
WARNING: Graphic images
MUMBAI, INDIA A growing number of current and recovered COVID-19 patients in India are contracting a deadly and rare fungal infection, doctors told AFP Monday as the vast nation battles to contain a massive outbreak of virus cases. The world s second most populous nation on Monday reported nearly 370,000 coronavirus infections to take the overall number of cases to just under 22.7 million, and more than 3,700 new deaths. Experts warn that the actual number of cases and fatalities could be much higher. Mucormycosis, dubbed black fungus by doctors in India, is usually most aggressive in patients whose immune systems are weakened by other infections.
A growing number of current and recovered Covid-19 patients in India are contracting a deadly and rare fungal infection, doctors revealed on Monday.
Mucormycosis, dubbed black fungus by medics, is usually most aggressive in patients whose immune systems are weakened by other infections. The cases of mucormycosis infection in Covid-19 patients post-recovery is nearly four to five times than those reported before the pandemic, Ahmedabad-based infectious diseases specialist Atul Patel, a member of the state s Covid-19 taskforce, told AFP.
Health workers wearing protective gear stand next to a Covid-19 coronavirus patient inside a banquet hall temporarily converted into a Covid care centre in Delhi on Monday
Debarchan Chatterjee/NurPhoto via Getty Images
A growing number of Covid-19 patients in India are contracting a fungal infection, doctors say.
This comes as the country battles a Covid-19 tsunami.
India is labouring under the strain of about 22 million Covid-19 cases.
A growing number of current and recovered Covid-19 patients in India are contracting a deadly and rare fungal infection, doctors told AFP Monday as the vast nation battles to contain a massive outbreak of virus cases.
The world s second most populous nation on Monday reported nearly 370 000 coronavirus infections to take the overall number of cases to just under 22.7 million, and more than 3700 new deaths.