Black fungus
Mucormycosis, dubbed "black fungus", is caused by a
mould found in soil and in decaying organic matter like rotting leaves,
according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
People get mucormycosis, of which there are several types, by
breathing in the fungal spores. They can be spread in hospitals and homes by
air humidifiers or oxygen tanks containing dirty water.
The infection needs to be caught early as it is aggressive
and dead tissue has to be scraped away. Surgeons sometimes have to remove
patients' nose, eyes or even their jaw to stop it getting to the brain. Once infected, people can die within
days. However it is not contagious, according to the CDC. India normally deals
with a few dozen cases a year.
There's little evidence
available as to what exactly makes this new infection more threatening.
However, doctors have issued a warning saying that unlike the black fungus, the
white fungus infection spreads more easily to the vital organs, including the
lungs, kidneys, intestines, stomach, private parts and even the nails and
causes widespread infection.
Additionally,
the white fungus infection may be risky for pregnant women and children, as per
reports. Hence, proper emphasis should be laid on sanitization and cleaning of
supplies, environment, since molds can be directly inhaled by a suspected
patient.
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