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<ul><li>As India struggles hard with the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, cases of new fungal infections have gone up.</li><li>The central government has asked all the states to declare black fungus infection as an epidemic.</li><li>More than 5,400 cases of mucormycosis or black fungus have been registered so far in 18 states.</li></ul>Disclaimer: This should not be considered medical advice. Please check with your doctor on medical procedures. As India struggles hard with the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, cases have been registered of these new fungal infections, which can be as deadly as the Coronavirus. Till now, three types of fungal cases have been reported in the country i.e., black, white and yellow. The central government has asked all the states to declare black fungus as an epidemic. States like Rajasthan, Telangana, and Tamil Nadu have already declared it as a notifiable disease under the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897. More than 5,400 cases of mucormycosis or black fungus have been registered, so far, in 18 states -- with the majority from Gujarat and Maharashtra, said the Union health ministry. People suffering from diabetes and who are taking steroids are more prone to these fungal diseases. What is black fungus or ‘mucormycosis’? Black fungus or ‘mucormycosis’ is a life-threatening disease, which has infected COVID-19 patients and recovered patients as well. The fungus is caused by mucormycetes -- a type of fungi -- present in the environment. The fungus surrounds the blood vessels and destroys them resulting in tissue necrosis (death of body tissue) and can even lead to death. Common symptoms - <ul><li>Nasal blockage</li><li>Bleeding</li><li>Discharge from nose</li><li>Facial pain</li><li>Swelling</li><li>Numbness</li><li>Blurring of vision</li><li>Double vision or watery eyes</li></ul>How can you protect yourself from Black fungus? While in hospital — <ol><li>Maintain good hygiene and cleanliness in your surroundings.</li><li>Maintain oral hygiene care with mouthwash, povidone-iodine gargles.</li><li>Use sterile water for humidification while administering oxygen, there should be no leakage from the humidifier.</li><li>Steroids usage should be limited not more than necessary with strict blood glucose control.</li><li>Avoid unnecessary use of broad-spectrum antibiotics or antifungals, can result in growth of unwanted bacteria or organisms.</li></ol>After recovering from COVID-19 — <ol><li>Maintain your surroundings clean and free from dust and dampness.</li><li>Maintain your oral and nasal hygiene.</li><li>Try to stay indoors and do regular exercise or workout.</li><li>Avoid construction areas, fields and grounds.</li><li>Avoid gardening as soil and plants abound with fungi. Use rubber gloves, masks, and boots, if unavoidable.</li></ol>What is white fungus or aspergillosis? White fungus is deadlier than black fungus, say experts. It spreads to several parts of your body and severely damages your lungs. Severe effects can be seen on the kidney, mouth, skin and brain. According to Dr. Kaushal Verma, professor at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), the white fungus begins from the tongue or private parts, it makes the tongue white, and then it spreads to other parts like lungs, brain and food pipes. Symptoms of white fungus - <ul><li>Cough</li><li>Fever</li><li>Diarrhoea</li><li>Dark spots on lungs</li><li>Reduced oxygen level</li><li>White patches in oral cavity</li><li>Skin lesions</li></ul>How can you protect yourself from white fungus? <ol><li>People with low immunity are more prone to these fungal diseases, so it is necessary to maintain a healthy immune system.</li><li>Maintain your surroundings clean and free from dust.</li></ol>First case of yellow fungus was reported in Uttar Pradesh’s Ghaziabad. Experts say yellow fungus can be scarier than black and white because of the manner it affects the body’s internal organs. What is yellow fungus? Unlike black and white, yellow fungus starts internally, causes pus leakage, and leads to slow healing of wounds. In some serious cases, it could further lead to devastating symptoms like organ failure and acute necrosis (cell injury). Symptoms of yellow fungus <ul><li>Lethargy</li><li>Poor appetite or no appetite</li><li>Weight loss or poor metabolism</li><li>Sunken eyes</li></ul>How can you protect yourself from yellow fungus? <ol><li>Fungal infections generally spread through bad hygiene, so it is important to have good hygiene habits.</li><li>Keep your surroundings clean.</li><li>Remove stale food from the house to prevent the growth of fungus or bacteria.</li><li>Humidity also plays an important role, so keep your humidity level between 30% to 40%.</li></ol>SEE ALSO:<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/zeta-is-indias-newest-unicorn-with-1-45-billion-valuation/articleshow/82930353.cms">This banking tech startup is the newest Indian unicorn with a $1.45 billion valuation</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/space/news/what-is-total-lunar-eclipse-blood-moon-on-26th-may-2021/articleshow/82929937.cms">A total lunar eclipse explained, and you can see one soon enough</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/whatsapp-says-it-will-wait-for-the-indian-government-to-pass-the-personal-data-protection-law-before-limiting-features/articleshow/82931362.cms">WhatsApp says it will wait for the Indian government to pass the Personal Data Protection law before limiting features</a>

Black, white and yellow fungi — all you need to know about symptoms and prevention

As many as 52 people have died due to <keyword id="2341825" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="mucormycosis">Mucormycosis</keyword>, a rare but dangerous fungal infection, in Maharashtra since the <keyword id="8763838" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="covid-19">COVID-19</keyword> outbreak last year, a senior health department official said on Friday. All of them were COVID-19 survivors, but succumbed to the <keyword id="10432869" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="black-fungus">black fungus</keyword> infection, the official said. For the first time, the state health department has compiled a list of deaths caused by black fungus," said the official who spoke on condition of anonymity. On Wednesday, Maharashtra health minister Rajesh Tope had said there were 1,500 cases of black fungus in the state, which is in the throes of a severe second wave of COVID-19. Early symptoms include greyish-black crusting/pigmentation in the nose or oral cavity that may enlarge and block the nasal cavity. Another symptom could be spores of <keyword id="11255076" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="fungus-depositing">fungus depositing</keyword> near the eyes that leads to ocular swelling. Some patients may get lesions over the cheeks. The symptoms usually start revealing themselves a day or two after recovery. Eight patients in Maharashtra have been admitted after they lost vision in one eye. Rising Mucormycosis cases, whose treatment requires a multidisciplinary approach, is expected to put a further burden on the state's healthcare infrastructure which is already under a strain. The fungus thrives in hospitals where there is improper sterilisation of ventilator circuits and oxygen pipes. “Since, in the treatment of severe covid patients who need prolonged oxygen therapy through high-flow oxygen given through nostrils, via a ventilator, Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure (BiPAP), non-rebreathing mask (NRM), etc., the risk of getting this opportunistic infection increases,” Dr Vashishtha told Business Insider earlier. The state will float a tender to procure one lakh Amphotericin-B anti-fungal injections to treat Mucormycosis patients, Tope had said a couple of days back. Mucormycosis has a very high fatality rate and this has increased the woes of the health department which has deployed all its resources to combat COVID-19. Mucormycosis was not a notified disease like malaria and hence its cases were not mapped and a database was not prepared, the official said. As per health experts cited by news agency PTI, Mucormycosis is mostly found among COVID-19 patients who have diabetes, fluctuation in sugar level or increased iron level in the blood. Tope has said patients with suppressed immune system and co-morbidities are vulnerable to contract the disease. As part of a contingency plan to treat Mucormycosis patients, the state government has decided to set up separate wards for them at hospitals attached to 18 medical colleges. With inputs from PTI SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/cryptocurrency/news/four-reasons-why-cryptocurrency-ethereum-has-been-on-a-bull-run/articleshow/82606761.cms">Four reasons why cryptocurrency Ethereum has been on a bull run</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/cryptocurrency/news/elon-musk-realised-that-he-cant-champion-both-renewable-energy-and-bitcoin-at-the-same-time/articleshow/82603087.cms">Elon Musk realised that he can’t champion both renewable energy and Bitcoin at the same time — here’s why</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/the-zenfone-8-is-androids-iphone-12-mini/articleshow/82599750.cms">The Zenfone 8 is Android’s iPhone 12 mini</a>

Covid-related black fungus has claimed 52 lives in Maharashtra so far, according to official  data

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Two states in <keyword id="3658" type="COUNTRY" weightage="60" keywordseo="India">India</keyword> have declared the "<keyword id="10432869" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="black-fungus">black fungus</keyword>" spreading in its hospitals an epidemic. </li><li>The fungus, known as mucormycosis, affects the sinuses, brain, and lungs, and is life-threatening.</li><li>This means India is now struggling with a second, concurrent epidemic - even as <keyword id="8764262" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="covid">COVID</keyword> deaths surge.</li></ul>India is now struggling with not one but two deadly diseases as black fungus infections continue to spread through its hospitals. Two states in India - the northwestern state of <a href="https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/rajasthan-declares-black-fungus-an-epidemic/article34599765.ece">Rajasthan</a> and the southern state of <a href="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E1y9phHVgAIfIDY.jpg">Telangana</a>- have declared the black fungus an epidemic, which means that all cases of black fungus must be logged and reported to the government. Black fungus - or mucormycosis - is <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/covid-patients-in-india-are-developing-life-threatening-black-fungus-2021-5">a life-threatening infection</a> that has a 50% mortality rate, and requires all infected tissues to be removed for patients to have a fighting chance. Unfortunately, this has resulted in some patients <a href="https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3133240/i-wont-see-my-kids-again-black-fungus-nightmare-facing">losing eyes</a> or <a href="https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/india-news-covid-case-study-what-happens-when-one-contracts-black-fungus-and-the-symptoms/382725">part of their nasal tissue.</a>The emergence of this concurrent epidemic means that India must now contend with fast-spreading fungal infections - even as COVID cases in the country <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/world/asia/india-coronavirus-cases.html">cross the 25 million mark.</a>The infection has been surfacing in former COVID patients, and <a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/what-is-mucormycosis-and-how-deadly-is-it-know-everything-about-black-fungus-101621015917469.html">doctors speculate</a> that steroids - <a href="https://www.indiatoday.in/india/video/watch-usage-of-steroids-to-treat-covid-19-1804283-2021-05-19">which are thought to be an effective way to treat severe cases of COVID-19 in India</a>- may be suppressing the body's immune system, making those who were treated for COVID more likely to develop a black fungus infection.India <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/india-coronavirus-daily-death-toll-break-global-record-2021-5">set a new record for the number of COVID deaths reported in one day</a> - with 4,529 cases recorded on Tuesday. The country is attempting to control a surge in cases in its devastating second wave - that has <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/india-hospitals-run-out-of-oxygen-amid-covid-19-surge-2021-4">overstretched its healthcare system</a>, <a href="https://www.insider.com/india-coronavirus-covid-crematorium-funeral-burial-delhi-2021-4">crippled its funeral services</a>, and resulted in bodies <a href="https://www.insider.com/bodies-covid-dead-wash-up-banks-indias-ganges-river-2021-5">being disposed of in the Ganges river.</a>There is currently no publicly available tally of black fungus infections in India, but states have reported troubling case numbers across the country. For example, a report from the <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-57167322">BBC</a> yesterday noted that the state of Maharashtra reported 1,500 active black fungus infections last week, while Gujarat saw around 900 cases in the last month.According to <a href="https://www.cnbctv18.com/healthcare/rajasthan-declares-black-fungus-an-epidemic-9358331.htm">CNBC</a>, the Rajasthan government has ordered 2,500 vials of a drug used to treat black fungus after 100 infected people were sent this week to a special ward in the Sawai Man Singh hospital in Jaipur set up especially for black fungus infections.To combat the rise in black fungus cases, dedicated facilities are sprouting up across the country to treat the disease. According to local <keyword id="6355005" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="news">news</keyword> outlets <a href="https://www.livemint.com/news/india/black-fungus-infection-delhi-to-set-up-dedicated-treatment-facility-at-3-hospitals-11621497179884.html">Livemint</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1395283313581907968?s=20">ANI</a>, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Thursday that three major hospitals in the nation's capital of Delhi - the Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital, the Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, and the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital - will set up designated facilities on their premises to deal with this new epidemic. This announcement was made after the capital <a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/delhi-news/delhi-reports-185-cases-of-black-fungus-in-possible-fallout-of-covid-19-surge-101621450475424.html">recorded 185 new cases of black fungus infections across seven Delhi hospitals</a> on Thursday, with <a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/aiims-doctor-says-black-fungus-cases-cross-3-digit-mark-asks-diabetic-patients-to-control-sugar-101621426958616.html">over 100 cases currently being treated at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in Delhi</a>.An article published on <a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/a-rare-black-fungus-is-infecting-many-of-indias-covid-19-patientswhy">National Geographic</a> noted that a black fungus infection may take root if <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/crypto/gen_info/infect_ic.html">immunocompromised</a> individuals come into contact with fungal spores. The spores that cause this infection are part of a class of mold called mucormycetes that are commonly found in the soil and air. People can get infected by inhaling the fungal spores or if the fungus <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/covid-19-and-black-fungus-infection-dos-donts-symptoms-treatment/articleshow/82634153.cms">enters the skin through a cut, scrape, or burn.</a>According to the <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/fungal/diseases/mucormycosis/symptoms.html">Centers for Disease Control and Prevention</a>, early symptoms of mucormycosis include black lesions appearing on the nasal bridge or inside of the mouth, one-sided facial swelling, headache, nasal or sinus congestion, and a fever.

As the country contends with a COVID crisis, 2 Indian states have declared black fungus an epidemic, too

The <keyword id="429096" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Maharashtra-health-department">Maharashtra health department</keyword> has decided to create a separate database of cases of <keyword id="2341825" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="mucormycosis">mucormycosis</keyword>, primarily being found in <keyword id="8873995" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="COVID-19-patients">COVID-19 patients</keyword>, to assess its actual spread and how to tackle it, officials said. Two COVID-19 patients recently died of this rare but <keyword id="10423359" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="serious-fungal-infection">serious fungal infection</keyword> in neighbouring Thane, while there has been a surge in such cases in Mumbai and <keyword id="2094" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Pune">Pune</keyword>, they said. As per doctors, mucormycosis, also known as the <keyword id="10432869" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="black-fungus">black fungus</keyword>, is mostly found among COVID-19 patients who have diabetes. Its symptoms include headache, fever, pain under the eyes, nasal or sinus congestion and partial loss of vision. <keyword id="13126" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Maharashtra">Maharashtra</keyword> Health Minister Rajesh Tope on Tuesday said there could be over 2,000 mucormycosis patients in the state as of now and with more and more COVID-19 cases coming up, "their number would increase for sure". On Wednesday, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said as many as 111 patients, all COVID-19 survivors, were undergoing treatment for mucormycosis in hospitals here. According to state health services director Dr Archana Patil, earlier there was no regular health management of mucormycosis, though it was detected in a few pockets. However, the Maharashtra health authorities have now decided make a detailed report of such cases in the state, and guidelines regarding it will soon be issued to all the districts, Patil said on Wednesday. "Once such data is compiled on a real-time basis, we will have some idea about the actual spread of the fungal infection and how to respond to it. We can also allocate medicines and provide necessary guidance as per its prevalence," the official said. According to health experts, cases of mucormycosis are rising in the state mainly among COVID-19 patients. The immune system of such patients is weak which makes them more susceptible to this fungal infection, they said. "There were some cases of this fungal infection in private hospitals last year during the first wave of COVID-19. But, some of those hospitals did not inform the state government or the <keyword id="6364396" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="ICMR">ICMR</keyword> about it," a state health official said on condition of anonymity. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/whatsapp-responds-to-privacy-criticism-by-alleging-other-apps-like-zomato-ola-aarogya-setu-zoom-google-and-other-apps/articleshow/82570897.cms">WhatsApp responds to privacy criticism by alleging that other apps and tech companies also show disdain for user privacy</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/telecom/news/vodafone-idea-adds-subscribers-for-the-first-time-in-15-months/articleshow/82568343.cms">Vodafone Idea shares up by 10% as it adds subscribers for the first time in 15 months – Airtel, Reliance Jio expand their user base</a>

Black fungus: Maharashtra health department to make separate database for cases found in COVID-19 patients

<ul><li><keyword id="2341825" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="mucormycosis">Mucormycosis</keyword>, also known as <keyword id="10432869" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="black-fungus">Black Fungus</keyword>, is a <keyword id="10571334" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="rare-fungal-infection">rare fungal infection</keyword> primarily contracted in the <keyword id="57843" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Intensive-Care-Unit">Intensive Care Unit</keyword> (ICU) of a hospital and can be pretty fatal — from losing vision to losing your life.</li><li>Early symptoms include greyish-black crusting/pigmentation in the nose or oral cavity that may enlarge and block the nasal cavity.</li><li>“We must educate healthcare workers, paramedics, and ICU technicians to frequently change flow meters’ water and sterilise oxygen tubing. Most importantly, only distilled water must be used, no tap/filter/RO water.” - Dr Vipin M. Vashishtha.</li></ul> Disclaimer: This should not be considered medical advice. Please check with your doctor on medical procedures. While the mortifying effects of the pandemic continue to hold our country to ransom, there is another rather fatal infection lingering in the background that doctors are witnessing in dozens of <keyword id="8763838" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="covid-19">COVID-19</keyword> patients, and that is called Mucormycosis. Also known as Black Fungus, this rare fungal infection is primarily contracted in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of a hospital and can be pretty fatal — from losing vision to losing your life. But this is not a new phenomenon. Dr Vipin M. Vashishtha — former convener, IAP Committee on Immunisation, and paediatrician at Mangla Hospital and Research Centre, <keyword id="67012" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bijnor">Bijnor</keyword>, UP — tells <keyword id="824043" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Business-Insider">Business Insider</keyword> that “Many ICUs where prolonged oxygen is being used with improper sterilisation and where tap water instead of distilled water is used, this and other fungal infections can emerge.” Forty cases of the life-threatening infection have been detected in <a href="https://www.indiatoday.in/coronavirus-outbreak/story/black-fungus-mucormycosis-detected-covid19-survivors-8-lose-eyesight-surat-fungal-infection-symptoms-1799971-2021-05-07">Surat</a>, Gujarat, of which eight have lost their eyesight. In Delhi’s Sir <keyword id="237993" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ganga-Ram-Hospital">Ganga Ram Hospital</keyword> (SGRH), six <a href="https://zeenews.india.com/health/delhi-hospital-reports-cases-of-covid-triggered-mucormycosis-here-s-all-you-need-to-know-about-it-2360268.html">patients</a> with Mucormycosis have been admitted in the past few days. Sometimes called Zygomycosis, this infection caused by fungi belonging to the order <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3286196/">Mucorales, </a>targets patients whose immunity is low. It is caused by various kinds of fungi that are often found in <a href="https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000649.htm">decaying</a> organic matter like spoiled bread, fruit, and vegetables, and in this case, the devices that are providing much-required oxygen to patients. And despite aggressive therapy, the overall mortality rate is high. The symptoms usually start revealing themselves a day or two after recovery. Early symptoms include greyish-black crusting/pigmentation in the nose or oral cavity that may enlarge and block the nasal cavity. Another symptom could be spores of fungus depositing near the eyes that leads to ocular swelling. Some patients may get lesions over the cheeks. At a later stage, this fungus can make its way to the brain. It is quite a severe disease, and fatality can go up to 50%. Treatments include antifungal drugs like Amphotericin-B that are given intravenously and other supportive therapy. The fungus thrives in hospitals where there is improper sterilisation of ventilator circuits and oxygen pipes. “Since, in the treatment of severe covid patients who need prolonged oxygen therapy through high-flow oxygen given through nostrils, via a ventilator, Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure (BiPAP), non-rebreathing mask (<keyword id="3383136" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="NRM">NRM</keyword>), etc., the risk of getting this opportunistic infection increases,” Dr Vashishtha adds. At a place where our healthcare situation is grim, to say the least, contracting this rare fungal infection that could be avoided is yet another reminder that our healthcare system has entirely collapsed. Dr Vashishtha stresses that “we must educate healthcare workers, paramedics, and ICU technicians to frequently change flow meters’ water and sterilise oxygen tubing. Most importantly, only distilled water must be used, no tap/filter/RO water.” SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/corporates/news/gautam-adani-net-worth-has-crossed-60-billion-as-per-forbes/articleshow/82454659.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">Gautam Adani’s net worth has crossed $60 billion – thanks to Adani Ports’ profits</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/corporates/news/good-news-for-tata-steel-jsw-steel-sail-hindalco-and-other-indian-steel-companies/articleshow/82451127.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">China has broken another emissions record ⁠— and it is good news for some Indian companies</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/google-is-now-automatically-turning-on-two-factor-authentication-for-some-accounts/articleshow/82452629.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">Google is now automatically turning on two-factor authentication for some accounts</a>

A potentially lethal fungal disease is creeping into recovering Covid-19 patients, and the prognosis is not good

<ul><li>Microbial hitchhikers like the <keyword id="10807252" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="black-mold-fungus">black mold fungus</keyword> can potentially survive on <keyword id="47638" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Mars">Mars</keyword> and pose a threat to astronauts looking to set up camp on the fourth planet from the Sun.</li><li>Black mold, also called ‘<keyword id="10807250" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="toxic-mold">toxic mold</keyword>’, has been linked to allergic reactions like skin rashes, headaches and other symptoms.</li><li>Researchers at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (<keyword id="6360409" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nasa">NASA</keyword>) and the <keyword id="10807249" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="german-aerospace">German Aerospace</keyword> Centre found that black mold can survive Martian conditions by launching them into the Earth’s stratosphere.</li></ul>Not all life on Earth is doomed to die on Mars. Some microbes, like the black mold fungus, have the ability to temporarily survive on the Red Planet’s tough terrain. Researchers at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the German Aerospace Centre tested the endurance of microorganisms in Martian conditions by launching them into the Earth’s stratosphere. <div type="image" title="marsbox3_edited" msid="81152379" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;em&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/em&amp;gt;MARSBOx payload containing dried microbial samples sent up in the Earth&amp;#39;s middle stratosphere to test for whether they would be able to survive on Mars&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> "We successfully tested a new way of exposing bacteria and fungi to Mars-like conditions by using a scientific balloon to fly our experimental equipment up to Earth's stratosphere," said Marta Filipa Cortesão, co-author of the study published in <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2021.601713/">Frontiers in Microbiology</a>. But there’s a catch. These microbial hitchhikers pose a threat to astronauts who may be looking to settle down on Mars one day. The black mold fungus poses a potential health risk, even though studies are <a href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323419#_noHeaderPrefixedContent">yet to prove</a> exactly how much exposure is too much. Why is black mold dangerous? Black mold — also called ‘toxic mold’ — is more of a legal construct, than a medical diagnosis, according to <a href="https://www.poison.org/articles/2011-oct/mold-101-effects-on-human-health">US Poison Control.</a> <div type="image" title="marsbox2_edited" msid="81152503" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Quartz disc with dried Aspergillus niger spores -- black mold -- before being placed in the aluminum sample carriers that went into the MARSBOx payload&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> Nonetheless, there is research to suggest that there is a correlation between the presence of black mold and serious health problems. A 2016 study published in <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4939167/">Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry</a> suggests that the presence of black mold in contaminated buildings can lead to skin rashes, headaches, dizziness and chronic fatigue. “With crewed long-term missions to Mars, we need to know how human-associated microorganisms would survive on the Red Planet, as some may pose a health risk to astronauts," noted co-author Katharina Siems. On Earth, mild or even dire symptoms can be easy to treat. But, on Mars, where supplies are likely to be limited, they could severely impact the productivity of the astronauts posted on the planet. What does this mean for manned missions to Mars? The ability of microbes to survive in extreme conditions — the good and the bad — could have major implications for missions like <keyword id="6355315" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="elon-musk">Elon Musk</keyword>’s plans to eventually colonise Mars. His mandate for <a href="https://www.spacex.com/human-spaceflight/mars/">SpaceX</a>, an aerospace company he founded in 2002, is to send a million people to the Red Planet by 2050. To be fair, samples of microbes were only sent up to Earth’s stratosphere. Not the real deal located 225 million kilometres away. <div type="image" title="marsbox_edited" msid="81152521" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;MARSBOx payload in the Earth&amp;#39;s middle stratosphere (38 km altitude). The shutter is open exposing the top layer samples to UV radiation.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> Many key characteristics of the environment at the Martian surface cannot be found or easily replicated at the surface of our planet. But, scientists believe that — above the Earth’s ozone layer — the middle stratosphere provides conditions that are remarkably similar. The survival of microbes could actually be good news since the end goal is to create <keyword id="6449862" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="life-on-mars">life on Mars</keyword> and hopefully make it fit for human habitation in the future. According to <keyword id="6360701" type="DEFINITION" weightage="20" keywordseo="spacex">SpaceX</keyword>, the atmosphere on the fourth planet from the Sun can be compressed to accommodate the group of planets. Meanwhile, NASA’s latest mission, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/news/now-on-mars-time-nasas-perseverance-team-has-to-shift-their-work-hours-40-minutes-later-every-day/articleshow/81127068.cms">Perseverance</a>, has landed on Mars and one part of its mission is to hunt for life that may already exist on its seemingly barren surface. While exploring outer space, one just needs to be doubly sure that any life that is found — even if its microbes — is not something that travelled from Earth in the first place. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/careers/news/deutsche-bank-plans-to-hire-1000-freshers-in-india-as-it-looks-to-build-core-technologies-in-house/articleshow/81147886.cms">INTERVIEW: Deutsche Bank plans to hire 1,000 employees in India as it looks to build core technologies in-house</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/politics/india/news/puducherry-government-falls-as-chief-minister-v-narayanasamy-loses-trust-vote-in-assembly/articleshow/81148119.cms">Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy resigns after Congress-led govt loses majority</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/banks/news/analysts-reports-showed-that-90-percent-of-unsecured-retail-loans-have-gone-to-salaried-government-employees/articleshow/81150110.cms">One in every five rupees lent by SBI to individuals, goes to government employees</a>

NASA finds black mold fungus can survive on Mars — and it poses a threat to astronauts

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Hospitals in India have seen a rise in cases of mucormycosis, a life-threatening <keyword id="6393040" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="infection">infection</keyword>.</li><li>Experts have linked steroids that treat <keyword id="8763838" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="covid-19">COVID-19</keyword> to the uptick since they dampen the immune system.</li><li>One doctor in Mumbai said 11 of his patients had required life-saving eye-removal surgery.</li></ul>In the wake of India's <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/india-covid-19-record-more-than-4000-covid-19-deaths-2021-5">second wave</a> of COVID-19, hospitals are reporting an uptick in cases of mucormycosis, or "black fungus" - a serious but rare fungal infection.Dr. Akshay Nair, an eye surgeon who works at three hospitals in Mumbai, told the BBC he saw at least 40 patients with the fungal infection in April alone.That's a huge uptick from the average number: He said he had seen only 10 cases of mucormycosis in the prior two years.Most patients had <a href="https://www.insider.com/what-is-diabetes">diabetes</a> and developed symptoms two weeks after recovering from COVID-19. Eleven of the patients had to have surgery to remove an eye to stop the spread of the infection, which is lethal in half of cases.Nair told the BBC that doctors thought steroids, a treatment that has proved an effective treatment for severe COVID-19, might play a role in fueling the infections. While steroids reduce inflammation and can prevent lung damage in those with COVID-19, they also suppress the body's immune system."Diabetes lowers the body's immune defenses, <keyword id="1754604" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="coronavirus">coronavirus</keyword> exacerbates it, and then steroids which help fight Covid-19 act like fuel to the fire," Nair told the <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-57027829">BBC</a>.There is no data counting mucormycosis cases across the world, and Indian officials have said there is no major outbreak, according to Reuters.One expert, however, said the numbers appeared to be higher in India, which has a high rate of diabetes, than in other countries."There have been cases reported in several other countries - including the UK, US, France, Austria, Brazil, and Mexico, but the volume is much bigger in India," David Denning, a professor at Manchester University, told <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/india/black-fungus-complication-adds-indias-covid-woes-2021-05-10/">Reuters</a>. "And one of the reasons is lots and lots of diabetes, and lots of poorly controlled diabetes."<h2>Black-fungus symptoms</h2>Indian government officials have told doctors to be on the lookout for symptoms of mucormycosis.It is caused by coming into contact with fungal spores, which can be found in soil, plants, and manure.According to the <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/fungal/diseases/mucormycosis/symptoms.html">Centers for Disease Control and Prevention</a>, early symptoms include:<ul><li>One-sided facial swelling</li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/types-of-headaches">Headache</a></li><li>Nasal or sinus congestion</li><li>Fever</li></ul>Symptoms can escalate to:<ul><li>Blackening of the nose</li><li>Blurred or double vision</li><li>Chest pain</li><li>Breathing difficulties</li></ul>

COVID-19 patients in India are developing deadly 'black fungus' infections that can lead to blindness

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Doctors in <keyword id="3658" type="COUNTRY" weightage="60" keywordseo="India">India</keyword> say <keyword id="8763838" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="covid-19">COVID-19</keyword> patients have unusual <keyword id="44308" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Symptoms">symptoms</keyword> that could be due to the <keyword id="6383835" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="delta">Delta</keyword> variant.</li><li>They include gangrene and hearing loss.</li><li>There aren't enough sequencing tests sent to labs to know if these are unique to the Delta variant.</li></ul>Doctors in India claim that the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/coronavirus-variants-uk-south-africa-brazil-us-facts-questions-2021-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">highly infectious Delta variant</a> could cause unusual symptoms such as gangrene and hearing loss, which they say are becoming more common in COVID-19 patients of all ages.Alarming details of the symptoms were <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-06-07/gangrene-hearing-loss-point-to-delta-variant-being-more-severe">reported by Bloomberg</a> on June 7 and followed up by <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9661367/Coronavirus-Doctors-India-claim-new-Covid-variant-giving-people-gangrene-hearing-loss.html">the Daily Mail</a> and <a href="https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/new-symptoms-linked-delta-variant-24274465">Daily Mirror</a> in the UK, where the Delta variant now accounts for 91% of new COVID cases.The highly infectious variant has spread to 67 countries and is becoming more common around the world. But, with fewer cases in India sequenced, there isn't enough data to know for sure whether the symptoms are unique to the variant, or are caused by COVID more generally, which has already been linked to unusual symptoms such as diarrhea and blood circulation issues.The Delta variant is estimated to be 60% more infectious than the Alpha variant that's currently the most common in the US. It also has mutations that mean it can partially avoid the immune response.Dr. Anthony Fauci, President Joe Biden's chief medical advisor, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/delta-variant-covid-coronavirus-india-fauci-second-shot-dose-2021-6" target="_blank" rel="noopener">warned last week </a>that the fast-spreading Delta variant could take hold in the US, if more Americans didn't get their COVID-19 shots. A <a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/373/bmj.n1346#:~:text=Covid%2D19%3A%20Single%20vaccine%20dose,India%2C%20data%20show%20%7C%20The%20BMJ">Public Health England document from May</a> reported the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines were respectively 88% and 60% effective against the Delta variant after both doses.Dr. Ganesh Manudhane, consultant cardiologist at Seven Hills Hospital in Mumbai, told Insider that he used to see four patients a year who had small blood clots causing gangrene, a serious condition where a loss of blood supply causes body tissue to die. Now it's one person every week, he said."I suspect it could be because of the Delta variant, because of the increased number of cases," Manudhane said - but he added that he hadn't genetically sequenced the patient's <keyword id="1754604" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="coronavirus">coronavirus</keyword> tests to check for the Delta variant, which has become the most common COVID variant in the country since first being identified there in October.Dr. Abdul Ghafur, infectious disease consultant at Apollo Hospital in Chennai told Insider that he had experienced far more cases of people with COVID-19 presenting with diarrhea than in the first wave in 2020.But "all of the inferences from local doctors across the country were based on their clinical experience and not on any published data," he said.It isn't clear how many people in India are infected with Delta compared with other <keyword id="112799" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="variants">variants</keyword>. It is one of three similar virus strains that all originated in India.Some statistics group these three together, and not all positive coronavirus tests are sequenced in the lab to check for variants. As of April, 0.75% of all India's cases were sequenced, according to a report in <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-01427-8" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nature</a>. The country has had 29.45 million recorded cases since the pandemic began.This lack of data is holding back doctor's understanding of the variant.Ghafur added that "despite having the second highest number of [COVID-19] patients in the world, India's premier research institute, the Indian Council of Medical Research, hadn't conducted any scientific studies of value." Anurag Agarwal, director at the Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology in Delhi, told Insider that there was no clear link between the Delta variant and atypical symptoms.Agarwal said the rise in people with atypical symptoms may be because of the increases in overall COVID cases in India, rather than the rise of the Delta variant.Neil Ferguson, director at the MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis at Imperial College London, explained at a briefing in the UK on Wednesday that, when a large number of people get sick, there can be a spectrum of rare conditions that aren't typical at all.Dr Jeffery Barrett, director at the COVID-19 Genomics Initiative at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, UK said at the same briefing that the UK processes up to 20,000 tests each week.INSACOG, a group of research labs that conducts India's sequencing, said it had sequenced more than 10,000 samples since it was set up in December.Barrett told the briefing there was no data to suggest the Delta variants caused different symptoms to other variants.Read more: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/vaccine-mrna-covid-drug-treatment-future-of-medicine-2021-5" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Experts explain why the mRNA tech that revolutionized COVID-19 vaccines could be the answer to incurable diseases, heart attacks, and even snake bites: 'The possibilities are endless'</a><div type="image" title="free covid test india" height="1468" width="1957" msid="83509721" hostid="261"></div><h2>Black fungus</h2><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/india-covid-19-patients-are-developing-deadly-fungal-infections-2021-5" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Black fungus</a> isn't a symptom of coronavirus but a complication that occurs <a href="https://www.insider.com/indias-covid-crisis-compounded-by-black-fungus-epidemic-spreading-hospitals-2021-5" target="_blank" rel="noopener">during the weeks after infection.</a> Doctors in India have anecdotally associated it with the Delta variant.Dr. Harsh Vardhan, India's <keyword id="6354750" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="health">health</keyword> minister, said Monday that there were more than 28,000 recorded cases of black fungus infection that occurs in people with compromised immunity or diabetes. Of these, 86% had had COVID-19. The link between black fungus and suppressed immunity or diabetes is not proven - but it's been suggested the high numbers of both in India could explain the number of cases of it.Ghafur said he believed the Delta variant was most likely the cause of the rise in black fungus cases."India has always been the diabetes capital of the world and use of [immune system suppressing] steroids was rampant in the first wave,'' Ghafur told Insider. "The only difference this time is the Delta variant."Dr Shailesh Kothalkar, an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) surgeon at Seven Star Hospital in the western city of Nagpur, <a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/science-and-disease/indias-black-fungus-wards/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told the Telegraph</a> that the Delta variant was "causing damage to the beta cells in the pancreas, which produce insulin and regulate blood glucose levels.""We need more investigation into this but [...] around 40% more patients are developing diabetes after having COVID-19 during this second wave," he said.Professor David Denning, a professor of infectious diseases at the University of Manchester and chief executive of the Global Action Fund for Fungal Infections told the Telegraph: "It's possible that a different variant would produce more disruption of the lining of the nose or the lungs… and then that would allow fungus to get in more easily." "But it's a bit tenuous," he said.

Doctors in India are reporting COVID-19 patients with gangrene, hearing loss, and diarrhea - but there's not enough data to prove they're caused by the Delta variant

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Root rot is a common disease that can impact indoor and outdoor plants.</li><li>The most common cause of root rot in <keyword id="12021028" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="houseplants" source="Orion">houseplants</keyword> is overwatering. </li><li>Diseased roots will look darkened and mushy, and leaves and stem can appear yellow and wilted.</li></ul>All plant lovers, from the most experienced green thumbs to the first-time plant parents, have faced what is known to be the number one killer of houseplants — root rot. This disease may seem like it's game over for an infected houseplant, but with the right treatment and preventative steps, root rot can become a worry of the past.Erin Marino, editorial lead and plant expert at <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/reviews/out?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thesill.com%2F" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored">The Sill</a>, shares her best tips on how to identify root rot, what steps to take in preventing it, and how to save a plant from the damage caused.<h2>How to identify root rot </h2><div type="image" title="Close of up the bottom of a plant with root rot" height="2000" width="2666" msid="89650664" hostid="261"></div>Root rot may often be overlooked because the disease occurs underneath the soil, so symptoms might not show right away on the foliage of the houseplant. Marino says that wilted, mushy stems and browning or yellowing leaves can be a simple way to identify root rot. To truly know if a houseplant is suffering from root rot, check its roots and soil — if the roots are darkened or black and mushy, and the soil is soggy and moist, root rot is probably the cause. "If the root rot is left untreated, the root system could rot and decay completely, leading to the untimely death of the plant," says Marino. "And while all plants can be susceptible to root rot, it is most common in houseplants due to overwatering," says Marino. <h2>What causes root rot? </h2>While some cases of root rot are caused by fungi due to waterlogged soil, the most common cause of root rot is overwatering. "As humans, we're inclined to stay hydrated and could even argue 'the more, the better' when it comes to water, but that's not the case for most plants," says Marino. "If they are flooded with too much water, and their surrounding potting soil is left wet for too long, it can cause root rot."When water sits at the bottom of the pot, it drowns and rots the roots, preventing them from getting the oxygen they need in order to grow. "When watering, try to be mindful of the amount of water you're using (aim for about one-third or one-fourth the volume of the planter), or opt for a planter with drainage holes," says Marino.While root rot is most common in houseplants, it can affect outdoor plants in the garden due to usually heavy rain and/or lack of drainage. According to Marino, root rot or corresponding fungus in garden plants could spread and affect nearby plants.<h2>How to get rid of root rot and save a plant</h2><div type="image" title="Overhead shot of two people working on repotting a plant." height="1307" width="1743" msid="89650665" hostid="261"></div>The main way to get rid of root rot involves <a href="https://www.insider.com/how-to-repot-a-plant">repotting</a>, so it is important to be sure that root rot is the cause of the issue before you begin. Repotting a plant too much can shock a plant, especially right before and during growing seasons when plants are most vulnerable."Once you've noticed signs of root rot, unpot your houseplant and get a good look at the root system," says Marino. "A plant with root rot will have roots mushy to the touch, with some roots even falling off into the surrounding soil, while a slightly overwatered plant will still have some flexibility and firmness to its roots."If the entire root system is black and mushy, it's best to discard the plant. However, if even just a couple of roots are white, firm, and somewhat flexible, the houseplant can be salvaged and its health restored.Before repotting, Marino instructs to remove the plant from the pot it's in and clear all the rot and dying leaves. "First, trim back the root system to the best of your ability, removing the majority of rot and mushiness," says Marino. "Next, clean up the foliage above, removing any yellowing or dying leaves, and lastly, repot your plant in fresh, dry potting mix."<h2>How to prevent root rot </h2>The first steps in preventing root rot are to adjust watering frequency and to be mindful of watering potted plants, especially if the pot does not have a drainage hole. Marino recommends lining the bottom of these pots with lava rocks or pumice, layered on top with potting soil to create crevices for excess water to pool into."Well-draining potting mixes can also be a great option for root rot prevention and of course letting plants dry out between waterings," says Marino. To avoid overwatering, Marino suggests always letting the soil of houseplants dry out before watering again. Maintaining a consistent watering schedule can also be key in practicing patience and moderation when it comes to plant care.In the garden, Marino also advises to check for proper drainage. For outdoor potted plants, avoid leaving them uncovered in the rain if the pot doesn't have drainage holes. Just like indoor houseplants, well-draining soil in the garden can also prevent root rot. "If you can't improve your garden's current soil, build raised beds and fill those with well-draining soil," says Marino. "Avoid using potting mixes or soils meant to retain moisture, and don't transfer impacted plants from one part of your garden to another as you may unknowingly transfer the fungal root rot."If overwatering is still an issue, choosing plants that prefer higher humidity and moist soil can be a method in preventing root rot. Boston ferns, spike moss, and cyperus are all good options for those who tend to drown their plants.Quick tip: Terracotta pots, especially those with drainage holes, can be helpful in preventing overwatering since the clay is porous enough to allow for proper water evaporation. <h2>Insider's takeaway </h2>Root rot is a common plant disease usually identified by darkened or black, mushy roots and browning, wilting leaves and stems. To salvage a plant with root rot, removing all diseased portions of the plant and repotting it in fresh soil may give the plant a new chance at life. With well-draining soil, adjusted watering frequency, a pot with a drainage hole or raised garden beds, and waiting for a plant's soil to dry out, avoiding future root rot will be a breeze no matter what stage of plant parenthood you're in.

You Searched For "black fungus symptoms" and got 9 results

Black, white and yellow fungi — all you need to know about symptoms and prevention

Vaamanaa Sethi

Covid-related black fungus has claimed 52 lives in Maharashtra so far, according to official data

BI India Bureau

As the country contends with a COVID crisis, 2 Indian states have declared black fungus an epidemic, too

Cheryl Teh

Black fungus: Maharashtra health department to make separate database for cases found in COVID-19 patients

PTI

A potentially lethal fungal disease is creeping into recovering Covid-19 patients, and the prognosis is not good

Kavita Majumdar

NASA finds black mold fungus can survive on Mars — and it poses a threat to astronauts

Prabhjote Gill

COVID-19 patients in India are developing deadly 'black fungus' infections that can lead to blindness

Kelsie Sandoval

Doctors in India are reporting COVID-19 patients with gangrene, hearing loss, and diarrhea - but there's not enough data to prove they're caused by the Delta variant

Dr. Catherine Schuster-Bruce,…

How to identify and treat pesky root rot in your houseplants

L. Daniela Alvarez

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