<p>Special hospital wards will be set up in India's capital New Delhi to fight 'black fungus', authorities said Thursday as the life-threatening infection surged among coronavirus patients.</p>.<p>A rare disease in normal times, authorities say thousands have developed Mucormycosis -- or black fungus -- across India as it battles a Covid-19 wave that has killed more than 100,000 people in the past month.</p>.<p>Some doctors say the high use of steroids to combat the coronavirus has caused the black fungus explosion.</p>.<p>The disease kills more than 50 per cent of sufferers within days. In some cases, eyes and upper jaws are removed by surgeons to stop the spread of the infection.</p>.<p>New Delhi's chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said special wards would be set up at three hospitals to handle the increased number of black fungus cases.</p>.<p><strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/specials/dh-deciphers-mucormycosis-or-black-fungus-a-double-whammy-for-covid-patients-987130.html" target="_blank">DH Deciphers | Mucormycosis or Black Fungus: A double whammy for Covid patients?</a></strong></p>.<p>He also vowed to ensure that all patients will get the medicines they need, with anti-fungal drugs the latest shortage to hit India's already stretched healthcare system.</p>.<p>There are more than 200 black fungus patients in New Delhi hospitals, with dozens on waiting lists for beds, according to media reports.</p>.<p>Indian social media has been flooded with requests from relatives of Mucormycosis sufferers pleading for help to find medicines.</p>.<p>The Rajasthan and Telangana states have declared black fungus epidemics. Maharashtra state alone has reported more than 2,000 cases.</p>.<p>Authorities have not been able to give a figure for Mucormycosis deaths since the coronavirus wave hit six weeks ago.</p>.<p>Black fungus is caused by organisms called mucormycetes, which can enter the body through breathing or skin injuries.</p>.<p><strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/declare-black-fungus-an-epidemic-union-health-ministry-urges-states-987891.html" target="_blank">Declare Black Fungus an epidemic, Union Health Ministry urges states</a></strong></p>.<p>These are naturally present in soil and decaying organic matter, but once inside humans, they can infect air pockets behind the forehead, nose, cheekbones and between the eyes and teeth.</p>.<p>Some doctors say there has been panic use of steroids to combat Covid-19 which has helped the spread of black fungus.</p>.<p>Coronavirus patients with diabetes and a weakened immune system are particularly prone to black fungus.</p>.<p>Many of the drugs used to fight the coronavirus suppress the body's immune system that would normally ward off a fungal infection.</p>.<p>The prevalence of diabetes in India is among the highest in the world.</p>
<p>Special hospital wards will be set up in India's capital New Delhi to fight 'black fungus', authorities said Thursday as the life-threatening infection surged among coronavirus patients.</p>.<p>A rare disease in normal times, authorities say thousands have developed Mucormycosis -- or black fungus -- across India as it battles a Covid-19 wave that has killed more than 100,000 people in the past month.</p>.<p>Some doctors say the high use of steroids to combat the coronavirus has caused the black fungus explosion.</p>.<p>The disease kills more than 50 per cent of sufferers within days. In some cases, eyes and upper jaws are removed by surgeons to stop the spread of the infection.</p>.<p>New Delhi's chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said special wards would be set up at three hospitals to handle the increased number of black fungus cases.</p>.<p><strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/specials/dh-deciphers-mucormycosis-or-black-fungus-a-double-whammy-for-covid-patients-987130.html" target="_blank">DH Deciphers | Mucormycosis or Black Fungus: A double whammy for Covid patients?</a></strong></p>.<p>He also vowed to ensure that all patients will get the medicines they need, with anti-fungal drugs the latest shortage to hit India's already stretched healthcare system.</p>.<p>There are more than 200 black fungus patients in New Delhi hospitals, with dozens on waiting lists for beds, according to media reports.</p>.<p>Indian social media has been flooded with requests from relatives of Mucormycosis sufferers pleading for help to find medicines.</p>.<p>The Rajasthan and Telangana states have declared black fungus epidemics. Maharashtra state alone has reported more than 2,000 cases.</p>.<p>Authorities have not been able to give a figure for Mucormycosis deaths since the coronavirus wave hit six weeks ago.</p>.<p>Black fungus is caused by organisms called mucormycetes, which can enter the body through breathing or skin injuries.</p>.<p><strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/declare-black-fungus-an-epidemic-union-health-ministry-urges-states-987891.html" target="_blank">Declare Black Fungus an epidemic, Union Health Ministry urges states</a></strong></p>.<p>These are naturally present in soil and decaying organic matter, but once inside humans, they can infect air pockets behind the forehead, nose, cheekbones and between the eyes and teeth.</p>.<p>Some doctors say there has been panic use of steroids to combat Covid-19 which has helped the spread of black fungus.</p>.<p>Coronavirus patients with diabetes and a weakened immune system are particularly prone to black fungus.</p>.<p>Many of the drugs used to fight the coronavirus suppress the body's immune system that would normally ward off a fungal infection.</p>.<p>The prevalence of diabetes in India is among the highest in the world.</p>