Two Covid-19 patients have reportedly been found infected with infectious ‘black fungus’ at BIRDEM Hospital in Dhaka.
“Two patients, who recovered from Covid-19 infections, have been infected by ‘black fungus’ with one undergoing treatment at the hospital,” Prof Delwar Hossain, Head of the Respiratory Medicine Department at the hospital, told UNB on Tuesday.
”Another patient who might have been infected by ‘black fungus’ died 3 days back. However, we are still not sure whether he died of ‘black fungus’ where he died of Covid-19 for sure,” Prof Delwar added.
India has reported nearly 9,000 cases of the deadly “black fungus” in a growing epidemic of the disease, according to media reports.
Normally a rare infection, called mucormycosis has a mortality rate of 50% while some only can be saved by removing an eye.
But in recent months, India saw thousands of cases affecting the recovered or recovering Covid-19 patients.
Doctors say it has a link with the steroids used to treat Covid-19. Diabetic patients are at particular risk.
Doctors have told the BBC it seems to strike 12 to 18 days after recovery from Covid.
What is mucormycosis or black fungus?
Mucormycosis is a very rare infection caused by exposure to mucor mold which is commonly found in soil, plants, manure, and decaying fruits and vegetables, according to a BBC report.
It targets sinuses, the brain and lungs and can be life-threatening in diabetic or severely immune-compromised individuals, such as cancer patients or people with HIV/AIDS.
Doctors believe mucormycosis may be being triggered by the use of steroids, a life-saving treatment for severe and critically ill Covid-19 patients.
Steroids reduce inflammation in the lungs for Covid-19 and appear to help stop some of the damage that can happen when the body’s immune system goes into overdrive to fight off coronavirus. But they also reduce immunity and push up blood sugar levels in both diabetics and non-diabetic Covid-19 patients.
It is thought that this drop in immunity could be triggering these cases of mucormycosis.
