- An epidemic of ‘black fungus’ cases has surged in India in the wake of a spike in COVID-19.
- Symptoms of black fungus (mucormycosis) include facial swelling, nasal congestion, and headache.
- If the lungs are infected, symptoms include fever, cough, and shortness of breath.
A surge in cases of mucormycosis, also known as black fungus, is affecting India — a country already experiencing a severe rise in COVID-19 cases.
More than 9,000 cases of the fungus have been reported, according to the Associated Press. And medication to treat it is running low.
This potentially fatal fungal infection is likely increasing due to the surge of people with COVID-19. Fighting the coronavirus can leave people’s immune systems compromised or weakened, which means they may have a higher chance of developing mucormycosis.
Healthline spoke with experts to better understand what might have caused India’s worsening health emergency.
Source: healthline