In the Covid second wave so far, India has reported 40,845 cases of mucormycosis or black fungus, of which nearly 85 per cent has been seen in coronavirus-infected patients. The fungal disease has already claimed 3,129 lives.
These data were shared by Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan in a meeting of the group of ministers on Covid on Monday.
Since April, mucormycosis infections have skyrocketed across the country. Till June 7, more than 28,000 cases had been officially reported, thus showing that the cases have nearly doubled since then.
Mucormycosis mainly affects people who are on medication for health problems that reduces their ability to fight environmental pathogens.