Two diagnosed with black fungus in UP's Shahjahanpur

Shahjahanpur, May 24 (PTI) Two people were diagnosed with black fungus or mucormycosis in Uttar Pradesh's Shahjahanpur district on Monday, officials said.

Both the patients, a 46-year-old man and a 50-year-old woman, have been sent to Lucknow for treatment. While the man lost his vision, the woman's eyes were also impacted, they said.

Black fungus or mucormycosis is caused by a group of moulds known as mucormycetes present naturally in the environment. It spreads through the nose and affects other parts of the body such as the eyes.

"A 46-year-old man, who is a resident of Khuttar police station area, had swelling in his eyes and also lost his vision. After he reached the hospital, symptoms of black fungus were noticed. Black fungus was confirmed in a test and he was sent to Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (in Lucknow)," Chief Medical Officer, Shahjahanpur, Dr S P Gautam told PTI.

No black fungus patient is admitted in Shahjahanpur as its medicine is not available in the district, he said.

The treatment of black fungus patients will start here once the medicine is available, he added.

The second case was reported from the district's government medical college.

PRO of government medical college Dr Pooja Tripathi said a 50-year-old woman from Khuttar police station area came to the hospital with a complaint of some problem in her eyes. Later, she was diagnosed with black fungus.

The woman has been sent to Lucknow for treatment, she said.

People whose immunity has been weakened due to Covid, diabetes, kidney disease, liver or cardiac disorders, age-related issues, or those on medication for auto-immune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis are more likely to contract mucormycosis.

If such patients are administered steroids, their immunity weakens further, allowing the fungus to thrive. PTI CORR NAV DIV DIV