Jammu, June 5: There has been a gradual rise in Mucormycosis (Black Fungus) cases in Jammu which has consumed four lives and 23 cases have surfaced from different districts, mostly from Jammu district.
So far two cases of black fungus have been reported from Srinagar district and no other case reported from any of the districts in Kashmir Valley.
Of total 23 black fungus cases, 4 patients have died in Jammu, Kathua and Poonch districts, 19 are undergoing treatment.
“Today, a fresh case of black fungus has been reported from Samba district and he is presently undergoing treatment,” an official said.
Jammu district alone has reportedly recorded 11 black fungus cases including 4 suspected and 7 confirmed. Of total 11 cases from Jammu, 10 patients are under treatment and one patient died due to the fungus.
District Jammu is followed by Kathua district, the official said while informing that Kathua has recorded 5 black fungus cases – three suspected and two were confirmed cases.
Of the 5 cases, the official figures claim two patients from Kathua have lost their lives due to black fungus. Three patients are undergoing treatment.
A report further says that one confirmed case belonging to Poonch had lost his life.
Reasi district has also reported one confirmed case, and Udhampur district has two cases i.e., one confirmed and another suspected case.
Meanwhile, the Department of ENT and Head Neck Surgery of Government Medical College Jammu has operated 9 black fungus infected patients, both confirmed and suspected cases.
As per the specialists who managed patients with the black fungus at the hospitals, it was tracked that a good number of these cases was found in COVID-19 recovered patients.
They said that with a prolonged high dose of steroids given during COVID treatment, the fungus effectively enters the body through the nose of patients with comorbidities like diabetes, malignancy and low immunity. The fungus later contaminates the eyes and brain, making the patient lose sight or life.