As COVID-19 wave begins to flatten in India, new deadly illness poses a challenge - CBS News

New Delhi — India's health infrastructure that nearly crumbled under a catastrophic second wave of coronavirus last month, is now faced with another challenge: A deadly fungal infection called Mucormycosis, common known as "black fungus.".

The country has reported more than 28,000 cases of the rare fungal infection, now increasingly seen in COVID-19 patients and survivors.

More than 85% of the reported cases of mucormycosis, which has a high mortality rate, have a history of COVID-19, India's Health Minister Dr.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published in its New Infectious Diseases journal has shown that between September and December 2020, a 2.1-fold rise in black fungus cases was seen in India, as compared to the corresponding period during the previous year. .

Doctors say the use of steroids in the treatment of COVID-19 compromises patient's immune system, making them more vulnerable to the fungal infection.

A number of Indian states have reported cases of the fungal infection.

That state is also the worst affected by COVID-19, with 5.9 million cases.

India is fighting the spread of the fungal infection at a time when the second wave of COVID-19 is waning, but the authorities are already preparing for a third wave, as much of the country has eased restrictions. 

On Sunday, the country reported less than 60,000 new cases for the first time in 80 days, taking the total toll to 29.8 million