Most patients afflicted with black fungus post-Covid recovery: Health Department

Tribune News Service

Patiala, June 8

Of a total of 58 cases of mucormycosis (black fungus) reported in the district, 49 patients are the ones who developed fungus after they had recovered from Covid.

Officials in the Health Department said the patients reported the symptoms of black fungus after they had recovered from Covid. Of the 58 cases of black fungus reported in the district, 27 were from Patiala and the rest from the other districts of the state.

In some cases, the disease was reported among Covid patients who were not hospitalised. The Civil Surgeon, Dr Satinder Singh, said: “A majority of cases of black fungus were reported in Covid patients post recovery while the disease was also reported among people who were not even infected with Covid.”

Dr Satinder Singh said 49 patients had diabetes. Nine patients had died. However, the cause of death would be ascertained only after the state committee submitted its report.

Meanwhile, Dr Sumeet Singh, District Epidemiologist, said the cases of black fungus were reported among patients who had taken high doses of steroids during Covid treatment and were suffering from diabetes. He said they had issued directions to the government and private hospitals alike to notice early signs and symptoms of fungus before Covid patients were admitted to the ICU.

The department said the Government Rajindra Hospital had got enough injections which were needed for the treatment of mucormycosis while private hospitals were being provided with alternative medicines.

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