India’s new killer Covid “black fungus” disease is rapidly sweeping throughout the country and authorities fear there could be an influx of up to 5,000 patients within a few months.
Black fungus officially called mucormycosis has claimed more than 90 lives of people who had previously recovered from Covid.
The Western Indian state of Maharashtra is the epicentre for the deadly disease and doctors are struggling to cope with the increase in cases.
Mucormycosis has a mortality rate of 50% if it is not treated early, and there have been reports of doctors being forced to remove the eyes and jaws of patients to save their lives.
Dr Arvinder Singh Soin who is a leading Indian doctor in Delhi wrote on Twitter, “We have seen more cases of black fungus in the past week than we normally treat in two years.”
Authorities in the northern state of Rajasthan have confirmed
There has been 100 active cases confirmed by authorities in Rajasthan and an epidemic of the black fungus has been declared.
The UK has been hit with the Indian variant and to date there has been no reported cases of the black fungus.
Public Health England (PHE) said the latest weekly data the B1617.2 mutation has increased by 2,111 compared to the previous week.
Most cases are concentrated in the North, mainly in Bolton and London, PHE warned that they are seeing more “clusters of cases” across the country.
PHE warned that there is a “rapid rise” in the Indian variant in the North of England and Dr Meera Chand said it is essential those who live in the worst affected areas must get their vaccine.