Recently, headlines have screamed at us with news of a COVID-19-induced fungal bacteria that makes patients lose their eyes, and their lives. After Delhi, the latest report is from Gujarat where nine people are believed to have lost their lives to a 'black' fungal infection.

But do we have reason to worry? FIT speaks to Sir Ganga Ram Hospital’s ENT Dr Manish Munjal and Dr Sumit Ray, a senior consultant of Critical Care Medicine at Holy Family Hospital in Delhi, who runs a COVID ward, to find out.

Let’s break down what mucormycosis really is, what more information we need before we panic, and signs to watch out for.

First, let’s look at what the fungal infection or mucormycosis really is.

According to the US’s Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), mucormycosis is a serious but rare fungal infection caused by a group of moulds which live in the environment called micromycetes.

It has long been a cause of death and disease in many patients in regular transplants, or ICUs and in immunodeficient people.

Dr Ray adds that it is a “devastating infection and loss of eye-sight, penetration to the brain and major surgeries to correct it are common.”

Mucormycosis, also known as ‘black fungus’, has been a cause of disease and death in transplants, ICU and immunodeficient individuals, but its potential links to recovering COVID patients is a cause of concern.

Dr Ray adds that it is not difficult to pick up the infection in hospitals, but it is worrying that there is a cluster of the same issue in certain hospitals.

So we know that mucor is not a new infection, but should we worry at the potential of COVID triggering the infection? Cases of COVID patients with mucor have been reported in Delhi, Mumbai and Ahmedabad.

Dr Ray says,

On Monday, 14 December, doctors from Sir Ganga Ram Hospital (SGRH) found 13 cases of “COVID-19-triggered mucormycosis". Patients who were recovering from COVID were found to be diagnosed with a deadly fungal infection allegedly triggered by COVID-19 which made almost half the patients lose their eyesight.

On Friday, 18 December, News18 reported that 44 recent cases of mucormycosis resulted in nine deaths in Ahmedabad.

In last 15 days ENT surgeons at SGRH have reported 13 cases of “COVID triggered mucormycosis” with over 50 per cent patients’ with loss of eyesight and removal of their nose and jaw bone. So far, 5 patients have lost their lives putting the morality in the range of 50 per cent. A statement by SGRH has said that when the infection travels to the brain there is certain death.

It’s always best to wait for more data before rushing to conclusions. Dr Ray adds that there are some key questions missing that we need answers to before we panic.

What’s important to note is that SGRH has many transplant patients - so there may be a selection bias. “But it is worrying and unfortunate,” adds Dr Ray.

Another important question to note is if there is some mould or hygiene issue in the ICUs or wards of the hospitals with high incidences of mucor patients. This is not improbable as most hospitals have converted their older buildings into COVID wards or hospitals, and the possibility of mould from the walls or floor is high, especially given the overburdened healthcare system.

Additionally, many COVID patients stay in the ICU for long periods of time and can pick up mucor - although it is not that common - from the environment there.

One of the worrying signs of this news is that is it affecting recovered covid patients who are unsuspecting and assuming all is well. Here are a few signs to stay alert for even when you feel like letting your guard down post-recovery.

Dr Shaloo Bageja, Senior Eye surgeon, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital adds, “Orbital involvement is a grave development in the course of this disease, and points not only towards the possibility of permanent loss of eyesight but life as well because brain involvement is the leading cause of death in mucormycosis.”

It’s essential to identify the signs early because reviving a patient with mucor requires difficult surgeries, and besides, they already have a lower immunocompetence from surviving COVID.