Black Fungus cases in Karnataka nearing 4,000

Team Udayavani, Aug 19, 2021, 2:21 PM IST

Bengaluru: The number of Black Fungus cases in the State is approaching the 4,000 mark with 441 deaths reported in three-and-a-half months due to the fungal infection.

Thursday marks the completion of 100 days since the first Black Fungus case was reported in the State.

However, to date, the treatment of fungus has not been added to the Ayushman Bharat Arogya Karnataka scheme.

The first Black Fungus case was reported in Bengaluru on May 10. At the end of May, 1,250 people were reported and 41 infected people had died.

However, in June and July, one thousand people were infected with the fungus.

The overall number of infections increased to 3,836 at the end of Wednesday, August 18.

Presently, new COVID-19 cases are declining from 25,000 to 1,000, but Black Fungus cases have not dropped.

Physicians are stating that 15 to 20 cases are reported every week.

More than 2,062 people have had eye surgeries and 62 are awaiting surgery.

Of those infected, 1,819 (47 per cent) have recovered from the infection and 1,148 are admitted in hospitals.

“Most of those infected with Black Fungus are not vaccinated. Some people who get vaccinated and get infected have a fairly low infection intensity. The infection is not transmitted by industrial oxygen, but mostly due to a reduction in immunity. Vaccination helps in preventing more fungal damage,” said Dr R Ambika, chief of Victoria Laboratory.