NEW DELHI: Dr MV Padma Srivastava, Head, Department of Neurology, said that the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi, is reporting almost 20 cases of black fungus daily. She also added that mucormycosis (black fungus) disease has always been there in the patients who are immunocompromised, diabetic and on high steroid dose but it was never in this number.
Dr Srivastava added that if diabetic people are infected with COVID-19, the sugar level should be strictly controlled and there should be rational use of steroids. She added that the cases of mucormycosis started to come around two months ago and states like Gujarat and Maharashtra have reported around 1800 cases so far. Now Delhi has also been reporting high number of cases, particularly in those who have taken high doses of steroids or are diabetic.
Dr D S Rana, Chairperson, Sri Gangaram Hospital, also informed that the hospital has reported 48 cases of mucormycosis and 16 are on the waiting list. The fungal infection is on the rise in various parts of the country, including Delhi.