Black Fungus In Odisha: 1st Case Reported In Home Isolation Patient

Bhubaneswar: The first case of Mucoromycosis or black fungus in Odisha was detected in a 71-year-old patient with known history of uncontrolled diabetes.

He has been identified as Anand Kumar Dash, a native of Jajpur. He was admitted to SUM Ultimate Hospital in the capital city on Monday. He is on antidiabetic and antifungal treatment and is stable.

According to a statement released by DMET CBK Mohanty, Dash is an uncontrolled diabetic and had tested positive for COVID-19 on April 20. He was in home isolation after testing positive and had reported swelling in eyes and blackish discharge from nose on May 8.

Nasal endoscopy of Dash showed black deposits on turbinate, stated a report by treating ENT surgeon Dr Radha Madhab Sahu. Dash has been advised OPD.

The patient has contracted Mucoromycosis from old water in an air cooler and fungus growth in damp pad, stated the report and not from any hospital.

While there is no history of gardening or farming, his sample taken for microscopy suggestive of fungal hyphae and culture showed Rhizopus spp (mucorale). His histopathology report is awaited, the release added.