India Battles Deadly Fungus as Virus Deaths Pass 300,000

Doctors in India are fighting a fungus¹ that is infecting COVID-19 patients and those who have recovered from the new coronavirus.

The dangerous infection, called mucormycosis, is rare. But doctors say its sudden increase could make India's fight against COVID-19 even more difficult.

India has reported almost 27 million cases of the coronavirus since the pandemic began. Almost half of that number has been recorded in the past two months.

The Health Ministry² on Monday reported 4,454 new deaths in the last 24 hours. That brings India's total to over 303,720. India also reported 240,842 new infections Monday.

India's vaccination³ drive has also slowed recently. Many states say they do not have enough vaccines⁴. India is the world's largest vaccine-producing country. But it has fully⁵ vaccinated⁶ just 3.8 percent of its almost 1.4 billion people.

Experts say new infections in India may finally be slowing. But there are some early signs that mucormycosis, also known as "black fungus," is becoming a serious concern.

Mucormycosis is caused by exposure to the mucor mold, which is found in soil, air and even in the nose of humans. It spreads through the lungs and damages the face. Sometimes, doctors have to remove an eye to prevent the infection from reaching the brain.

On Saturday, federal minister Sadananda Gowda said nearly 9,000 cases had been reported in India. The quick rise has led to a shortage of Amphotericin B, the drug used to treat the condition. Local media have said more than 250 have died from infections.

Mucormycosis infections can cause death at a high rate. The fungus was present in India before the pandemic. It is not contagious⁷, but the high number of cases in the last month has surprised and worried doctors.

Ambrish Mithal is a doctor with Max Healthcare, a private group of hospitals in India.

"It is a new challenge and things are looking bleak⁸," he said.

Mithal said black fungus often infects patients with weakened defense⁹ against infection and existing health conditions, especially diabetes¹⁰. High and unnecessary usage of steroid drugs can also lead to infection.

"Earlier I used to come across just a few cases every year but the current infection rate is frightening," Mithal said.

India's large cities have seen signs of improvement in recent days. But the virus has hit the country's rural areas where most Indians live and where health care is limited. Now heath experts are worried that common medications, including steroids, are increasing the infection rate of mucormycosis.

SK Pandey is a medical officer at a hospital in Uttar Pradesh state. He said inexperienced doctors were giving steroids to patients in rural areas without considering all the possibilities.

"This has led to increase in black fungus cases in smaller cities where the patient has not even been hospitalized," he said.

India's Health Ministry on Thursday asked states to follow the spread of the condition and declared it an epidemic¹¹. All medical centers must report the cases to a federal network.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday called the disease a "new challenge."

Words in This Story

fungus –n. any of a group of living things, such as mushroom and molds, that behave like plants but do not have flowers or leaves

expose — v. to cause (someone) to experience something or to be influenced or affected¹² by something

mold — n. a soft substance that grows on the surface of damp or rotting things

contagious — n. having a sickness that can be passed to someone else by touching¹³

challenge — n. a difficult task or problem : something that is hard to do

bleak —adj. not hopeful or encouraging

epidemic –n. a situation in which a disease spreads quickly and affects a large number of people

1 fungus   

n.真菌，真菌类植物

参考例句：

• Mushrooms are a type of fungus.蘑菇是一种真菌。
• This fungus can just be detected by the unaided eye.这种真菌只用肉眼就能检查出。

2 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

3 vaccination   

n.接种疫苗，种痘

参考例句：

• Vaccination is a preventive against smallpox.种痘是预防天花的方法。
• Doctors suggest getting a tetanus vaccination every ten years.医生建议每十年注射一次破伤风疫苗。

4 vaccines   

疫苗，痘苗( vaccine的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His team are at the forefront of scientific research into vaccines. 他的小组处于疫苗科研的最前沿。
• The vaccines were kept cool in refrigerators. 疫苗放在冰箱中冷藏。

5 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

6 vaccinated   

[医]已接种的，种痘的，接种过疫菌的

参考例句：

• I was vaccinated against tetanus. 我接种了破伤风疫苗。
• Were you vaccinated against smallpox as a child? 你小时候打过天花疫苗吗？

7 contagious   

adj.传染性的，有感染力的

参考例句：

• It's a highly contagious infection.这种病极易传染。
• He's got a contagious laugh.他的笑富有感染力。

8 bleak   

adj.(天气)阴冷的；凄凉的；暗淡的

参考例句：

• They showed me into a bleak waiting room.他们引我来到一间阴冷的会客室。
• The company's prospects look pretty bleak.这家公司的前景异常暗淡。

9 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

10 diabetes   

n.糖尿病

参考例句：

• In case of diabetes, physicians advise against the use of sugar.对于糖尿病患者，医生告诫他们不要吃糖。
• Diabetes is caused by a fault in the insulin production of the body.糖尿病是由体內胰岛素分泌失调引起的。

11 epidemic   

n.流行病；盛行；adj.流行性的，流传极广的

参考例句：

• That kind of epidemic disease has long been stamped out.那种传染病早已绝迹。
• The authorities tried to localise the epidemic.当局试图把流行病限制在局部范围。

12 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

13 touching   

adj.动人的，使人感伤的

参考例句：

• It was a touching sight.这是一幅动人的景象。
• His letter was touching.他的信很感人。