{"id":11547,"date":"2021-05-19T17:10:17","date_gmt":"2021-05-19T11:40:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nerising.in\/?p=11547"},"modified":"2021-05-20T10:42:02","modified_gmt":"2021-05-20T05:12:02","slug":"covid-19-patient-succumbs-to-black-fungus-in-assam","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/northeastrising.in\/test\/covid-19-patient-succumbs-to-black-fungus-in-assam\/","title":{"rendered":"COVID-19 patient succumbs to \u2018black fungus\u2019 in Assam"},"content":{"rendered":"

Assam, May 19:<\/strong> Assam reported its first death due to mucormycosis or black fungus in Guwahati on Wednesday morning.<\/p>\n

27-year-old Polomoni Bora, who succumbed to the rare infection at Apollo Hospital in Guwahati, was a resident of Nagaon district.<\/p>\n

Earlier on May 6, Bora tested positive for COVID-19 at the Dhing FRU and was referred to Nagaon for treatment. Later, on testing negative for the coronavirus, he was sent home.<\/p>\n

However, when his health deteriorated again, he was admitted to Apollo Hospital<\/a><\/span> in Guwahati on May 15.<\/p>\n

The patient breathed his last at the hospital at 6 AM on Wednesday.<\/p>\n

Sources said that this Assam patient had contracted mucormycosis, which is also known as a black fungus. However, no official declaration was made by the hospital administration till the filing of this report.<\/p>\n

Black fungus is a serious but rare fungal infection caused by a group of moulds called \u2018mucormycetes<\/strong>\u2019. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, these live throughout the environment, particularly in soil and in decaying organic matter, such as leaves, compost piles, or rotten wood.<\/p>\n

It can affect areas from where it can be inhaled \u2014 through the nose, sinus or lungs. If it enters from a wound or skin, it can cause local infection, but it can affect the eyes and the brain if it enters from the sinus.<\/p>\n

According to some reports, it can affect one in 10 lakh people but what\u2019s worrying is that it has an overall mortality rate of 50 per cent.<\/p>\n

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Also Read<\/span>:<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0Amid surging COVID cases, Assam govt to bar inter-district movement for 15 days from May 21<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/h5>\n
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It can be potentially life-threatening in diabetic or severely immunocompromised individuals, say reports.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, on May 16, Union minister Nitin Gadkari took to Twitter to share his concern about black fungus and create awareness about the rare infection.<\/p>\n

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#Mucormycosis<\/a> or '#BlackFungus<\/a>' has been observed in a number of #COVID19<\/a> patients. Early detection can help curb the disease. Please share this with your family and friends to create awareness. pic.twitter.com\/XG2YqCU9gX<\/a><\/p>\n

— Nitin Gadkari (@nitin_gadkari) May 16, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n