Pune, Nagpur, Aurangabad, Nashik, Solapur and Mumbai have reported the maximum cases of mucormycosis due to Covid-19 in Maharashtra. The number of deaths in these districts is also among the highest in the state.
Till date, the state has reported a total of 9.268 cases of mucormycosis with the highest numbers in Pune, 1,241, and Nagpur, 1,521. Aurangabad has the third highest number of cases, at 1043, according to a state report of cases till July 4.
Of the 1,112 deaths due to the infection, also known as black fungus, 163 were reported from Pune, 152 from Nagpur and 99 from Aurangabad. In Pune, at least 454 patients are still under treatment for the infection at various hospitals.
Mucormycosis, a rare but serious fungal infection known as black fungus, manifests in the skin and also affects the lungs and the brain. Mucormycosis is caused by a group of moulds known as mucormycetes present naturally in the environment. It mainly affects people who are on medication for health problems that reduces their ability to fight environmental pathogens, according to experts from the Covid-19 task force.
Other cities in Maharashtra have also reported several cases of black fungus. Mumbai has reported 620 cases and 104 deaths due to mucormycosis while Solapur has, till July 14, reported 589 cases and 81 deaths.
Nashik till July 14 has 659 cases and 72 deaths, Sangli reported 314 cases and 29 deaths, Ahmednagar reported 280 cases and 23 deaths, and Thane reported 271 cases and 42 deaths. As many as 2.900 patients with mucormycosis are under treatment across the state, according to the report.
