‘Black fungus’ disease linked to Covid spreads across India

7,200 mucormycosis cases reported, usually in patients with diabetes or compromised immune systems

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States across India have begun declaring a black fungus" epidemic as cases of the fatal rare infection shoot up in patients recovering from Covid-19.

The fungal disease, called mucormycosis, has a 50% mortality rate. It affects patients initially in the nose but the fungus can then spread into the brain, and can often only be treated by major surgery removing the eye or part of skull and jaw.