Black fungus infection (Mucormycosis), a rare disease affecting COVID patients and immunity-compromised people, has been reported in 15 people in the state of Kerala. The disease was reported in Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kottayam and Kollam districts on Wednesday. Malappuram has a maximum number of cases which is 8 and two from Kozhikode, 3 people in Kottayam and 1 in Palakkad.

A 56-year-old Pandalam native died while under treatment post recovering from Covid. In a shocking incident, a Malappuram native patient’s eye had to be removed to stop the fungal infection from spreading to his brain. The fungus infection was removed surgically from one patient each in Kozhikode, Ernakulam, and Kollam.

An official with the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) in the state said during the first wave also, a few cases of black fungus were reported in the state.“The numbers were not that high. In a scenario when the healthcare staff strength is outnumbered by the patients, it is difficult to attend to and treat each and everyone. This might be one of the reasons for the high number of cases in North India. Also, doctors there use high doses of steroids as part of treatment procedures,” said the official. It may be remembered that the infection had claimed several lives in Maharashtra during the first wave of the pandemic.

What are the symptoms of black fungus infection?

The symptoms of black fungus infection include severe headache in one part of the head, severe pain around the eyes, blurred vision, and discharge of black liquid from the nose. The fungus can damage any organ, but most commonly sinus, eyes, lungs and brains. The infection is non-communicable though!