'50% Fatality Rate' Over 7,000 Infected with Fungal Infection in India

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] In India, where COVID-19 cases are surging, fear is growing as the number of people infected with a fungus with a fatality rate of 50% has exceeded 7,000.

According to local media Hindustan Times on the 21st, the Indian federal government announced that as of the 19th, 7,251 people had been diagnosed with mucormycosis.

AFP reported that only in the western states of Maharashtra and Gujarat, 2,000 and 1,200 infection cases have been reported respectively so far.

Hindustan Times reported through its own tally that 219 people have died from mucormycosis to date.

This disease, caused by mucormycetes commonly found in soil or rotting fruit, is a rare illness that shows symptoms such as nosebleeds, swelling around the eyes, or skin turning black. It can spread to the eyes, nose, brain, and lungs.

The fatality rate reaches 50%. However, it is known that treatment is somewhat possible by receiving antifungal intravenous injections for about eight weeks.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, mucormycosis was occasionally found in diabetic patients with weakened immune systems. But recently, COVID-19 patients or those recovering after testing negative have been increasingly infected.

The medical community believes that during the COVID-19 treatment process, patients who took steroids to prevent inflammation experienced weakened immunity, exposing them to mucormycetes infection.

Some regions have officially declared mucormycosis infections to be epidemic. Western Rajasthan, Gujarat, and southern Telangana states have taken such measures as infections increased.

New Delhi, the capital where about 200 patients have occurred, has also prepared separate wards for these patients. The federal government has instructed state governments to classify mucormycosis as a notifiable infectious disease and to respond actively.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.