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Tackling India鈥檚 black fungus crisis

India is seeing a decline in the second wave of coronavirus infections, but a rare and deadly fungal infection is affecting patients recovering from Covid.

India is seeing a decline in the second wave of coronavirus infections, but a rare and deadly fungal infection is affecting patients recovering from Covid.

India has reported more than 11,000 cases of the black fungus infection, also known as mucormycosis. It has a mortality rate of over 50 per cent, and the drug needed for its treatment is in short supply. Missing a dose can result in removal of tissues or, in serious cases, bones and even the eye.

Doctors say there is a link between black fungus and indiscriminate use of steroids to treat Covid patients. Diabetics are said to be particularly at risk.

So, what are the treatment challenges, and what is happening to the families of patients faced with the double stress of health and finances?

In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss what can be done to tackle India鈥檚 black fungus crisis.

Presenter: Devina Gupta

Contributors: Dr Akshay Nair, oculoplastic surgeon; Dr Ramanan Laxminarayan, founder and director, Centre for Disease Dynamics; Iqra Khalid, lawyer, black fungus patient鈥檚 kin

Available now

26 minutes

Last on

Sun 6 Jun 2021 04:32GMT

Image credit

A doctor examines a suspected mucormycosis patient at a Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation Hospital in Navi Mumbai, India (Credit: Divyakant Solanki/EPA)

Broadcasts

  • Fri 4 Jun 2021 14:32GMT
  • Sat 5 Jun 2021 10:32GMT
  • Sat 5 Jun 2021 23:32GMT
  • Sun 6 Jun 2021 04:32GMT

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