Two Indian states have declared black fungus an epidemic

PanARMENIAN.Net - India is now struggling with not one but two deadly diseases as black fungus infections continue to spread through its hospitals.

Two states in India — the northwestern state of Rajasthan and the southern state of Telangana— have declared the black fungus an epidemic, which means that all cases of black fungus must be logged and reported to the government, Insider reports.

Black fungus — or mucormycosis — is a life-threatening infection that has a 50% mortality rate, and requires all infected tissues to be removed for patients to have a fighting chance. Unfortunately, this has resulted in some patients losing eyes or part of their nasal tissue.

The emergence of this concurrent epidemic means that India must now contend with fast-spreading fungal infections — even as Covid cases in the country cross the 25 million mark.

The infection has been surfacing in former Covid patients, and doctors speculate that steroids — which are thought to be an effective way to treat severe cases of Covid -19 in India— may be suppressing the body's immune system, making those who were treated for Covid more likely to develop a black fungus infection.

India set a new record for the number of Covid deaths reported in one day — with 4,529 cases recorded on Tuesday, May 18. The country is attempting to control a surge in cases in its devastating second wave — that has overstretched its healthcare system, crippled its funeral services, and resulted in bodies being disposed of in the Ganges river.