Don't Panic, Black Fungus Doesn't Spread from Person to Person: Dr. Anoop Barman

STAFF REPORTER GUWAHATI: "Black fungus isn't a disease, but an infection. It doesn't spread from person to person," said State Director of Medical Education (DME) Dr Anoop Barman.

A panic over 'black fungus' is spreading like a wildfire in the State after the death of a COVID-19 patient, a boy from Nagaon, because of black fungus infection. However, the medical fraternity is here to dispel the fear.

Talking to The Sentinel, Dr Barman said, "There's nothing to panic over black fungus. It's curable if detected early. It has medicines."

What's Black Fungus?

Dr Barman said, "It's typically a fungal infection called Mucormycosis. A person may come into its contact by inhaling mould spores or when coming into contact with them in things like soil, rotten masses, or compost piles. It's found in the environment.

"It enters through the nasal passage, it creates ulcer there. It may even spread to the ears and the brain. It attacks people whose immunity is weak like COVID-19 patients, cancer patients, diabetic patients, heart transplant patients and others who take steroid medicines."

Meanwhile, Health Minister Keshab Mahanta said, "The death due to black fungus has come to our notice. We've taken the incident seriously and asked high-level officials to delve deep into the matter."

Symptoms of Black Fungus Infection

Here is the signs of black fungus are – fever, one-side facial swelling, headache, nasal congestion etc if the infection is in the brain. The patient may experience cough, chest pain, shortness of breath etc if the infection affects the lungs. If a black fungus attacks the digestive system, the patient may feel abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting etc.

Also Read: In a First, Black Fungus Detected in 27-Yr-Old Youth in Guwahati