Doctors in Bihar's Patna based Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (IGIMS) successfully removed a cricket ball-sized mucormycosis or black fungus on Friday from the brain of 60-year-old man infected patient.
According to reports, the patient, Anil Kumar from Jamui, is currently stable. He had recently recovered from Covid-19 but later contracted black fungus.
Dr Manish Mandal, the medical superintendent of IGIMS, who performed the surgery for over three hours said, the fungus entered the patient's brain through nose but did not spread to his eyes because of which his eyes remained unharmed.
Black fungus, caused by a mould found in soil and in decaying organic matter, affects immuno-compromised individuals, ones with poorly-controlled diabetes or those administered high doses of steroids. The disease was found more prevalent among patients who had recovered from Covid-19 and had weak immunity.
Bihar has reported more than 500 cases of mucormycosis or black fungus so far. The state government had declared mucormycosis as an epidemic on May 22.
Meanwhile, the Covid-19 disease caseload in Bihar has climbed to 716,296 of which 9466 people have died and 701,234 have recovered. The active cases have come down to 5596.
The recent surge in deaths due to Covid-19 in the state has drawn flak from opposition parties with latter accusing the state government of botching up the battle against the ongoing pandemic.
