India’s mucormycosis wards
The ‘black fungus’ killing hundreds across India could be related to the country’s highly infectious coronavirus variant, rather than overuse of steroids, Indian specialists believe.
It is thought that the new strain, known as “Delta” or B.1.617, is causing unprecedented damage to the pancreas of otherwise healthy people, triggering sudden onset diabetes and soaring blood glucose levels.
This allows the deadly flesh eating fungus to thrive. The warnings from Indian doctors come amid growing concerns about the spread of the variant in the UK, where Delta is now dominant.
We visited ten hospitals across the western Indian state of Maharashtra, where doctors were treating thousands of patients struck down by the devastating “black fungus”.
Called mucormycosis, the condition is a fast-moving, aggressive infection that attacks a person’s sinuses, lungs and brain and is deadly if not treated.
In the Seven Star Hospital in the western city of Nagpur, ward after ward is filled to the brim with patients who had recovered from Covid-19 yet – despite being previously healthy – were hit by surging blood glucose levels and mucormycosis symptoms.
Prior to Covid-19, Seven Star Hospital would only see several mucormycosis cases in a year. But since mid-March, Dr Shailesh Kothalkar, the hospital’s leading ear, nose, and throat (ENT) surgeon, has treated over 280 patients and operated on 151 people, during gruelling 18 hour days at work.
The sudden explosion in cases during India’s brutal second wave was initially blamed on the overprescription of steroids during Covid-19 treatment – which can provide a cheap, effective treatment to combat severe cases, but also suppress the body’s immune system.
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Jijabai Thakare (63) in the emergency room at the Seven Star hospital in Nagpur. She arrived for he village 100 miles away three days after developing symptoms, paralysed on one side. Jijabai died two days later, the fungus having already reached her brain.
Dr Shailesh Kolthakar looks at MRI scans of Jijabai Thakare (63) in the emergency room at the Seven Star hospital in Nagpur. She arrived for he village 100 miles away three days after developing symptoms, paralysed on one side. Jijabai died two days later, the fungus having already reached her brain
Dr Shrinivash Chauvan, Head of the ENT department at Mumbai's government-run Grant Medical College and JJ Hospital
A patient in the Mucormycosis Ward at Mumbai's JJ Hospital.
Patients in the Mucormycosis Ward at Mumbai's JJ Hospital.
A patient after surgery to remove Mucormycosis at the Seven Star hospital in Nagpur
A patients teeth are removed along with her palate during aggressive surgery to remove Mucormycosis at the Seven Star hospital in Nagpur.
Prakash Nagpure who had to secure a loan worth one year;Õs pay for Mucor surgery using his house in Bhandara as collateral.
Post operative Mucormycosis patient Vikram Trivedi (38) trying to recuperate at the Seven Star hospital in Nagpur. Vikram has had his left eyeball and the roof of his mouth removed to save his life after contracting Mucor.
Salim Nanded, 45, in the Mucormycosis Ward at Mumbai's JJ Hospital, who had his eye removed to save his life.
A patient undergoes surgery to remove Mucormycosis at the Seven Star hospital in Nagpur.
Mucor patient Suresh Thawkar at the Seven Star hospital in Nagpur.
Shailesh Kolthakar, leading ENT surgeon at the Seven Star hospital in Nagpur who has been operating on up to 12 patients a day.
A clinic in the town of Amravati, Maharashtra, now advertising Mucormycosis test
Post operative Mucormycosis patient Vikram Trivedi (38) trying to recuperate at the Seven Star hospital in Nagpur. Vikram has had his left eyeball and the roof of his mouth removed to save his life after contracting Mucor.
Surgeons operate on the sinuses of a suspected Mucor patient, Lion Tarachand Bapa Hospital Mumbai
Surgeons operate on the sinuses of a suspected Mucor patient, Lion Tarachand Bapa Hospital Mumbai
Kalpana Pande who is recovering from surgery to remove her palate has her blood sugar level taken by her son.