Health Minister tweets ways to manage Black Fungus as cases rise

Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan took to Twitter on Friday to advise people on ways to detect and manage Mucormycosis, commonly known as Black Fungus.  Black Fungus has been reported in a number of coronavirus patients, especially in Maharashtra. There could be over 2,000 mucormycosis patients in Maharashtra alone.

The minister said in his tweet that ‘awareness and early diagnosis can help curb the spread of the fungal infection’. He shared four slides on Black Fungus, its symptoms and required action once someone contracts the infection.

The minister said people having co-morbities, uncontrolled diabetes or prolonged ICU stay can get predisposed to the fungal infection.

Pain or redness around eyes, fever, headache, coughing, shortness of breath, bloody vomits and altered mental status are possible symptoms of the infection, he further added.