Black fungus, also known as mucormycosis, has been detected in a post COVID-19 afflicted patient at the Silchar Medical College and Hospital (SMCH) in Assam.
Doctors of the SMCH on Friday confirmed that the biopsy reports suggest that the patient is affected by Black Fungus.
“The potassium hydroxide test to determine Black Fungal infection came out to be positive. And the biopsy and culture reports of the patient from Karimganj district which were available on Thursday suggest that the patient is infected with mucormycosis or Black Fungus,” Dr Bhaskar Gupta, vice principal of SMCH said.
Gupta said the patient is admitted in the Medicine ward of the hospital.
“Even though he is maintaining a stable health for now, we cannot say he is out of danger as yet. We are constantly monitoring him and being treated as per the State protocol,” he said.
SMCH principal Dr Babul Bezbaruah earlier said that the patient was tested positive for COVID-19 on May 5 at the Karimganj Civil Hospital.
His subsequent test results came negative on May 11 following which he was discharged.
However, later he was admitted to a private hospital in Silchar on May 12 after he complained of breathing problem.
Later, on May 26, the patient was brought to the Department of Ophthalmology of SMCH wherein he was examined and found that one eye had swelling, his nerve had problems and nasal obstructions.
Subsequently, the Department of ENT did the nasal endoscopy and biopsy and his swab was collected, the reports of which came out on Thursday.