Black fungus detected in patient at Silchar Medical College & Hospital

Silchar, June 4: Merely five days after the hullabaloo over the alleged detection of Black Fungus in post COVID-19 afflicted patient at the Silchar Medical College and Hospital (SMCH), doctors of the hospital on Friday confirmed that the culture and biopsy reports suggest that the patient is affected by mucormycosis or Black Fungus.

Dr Bhaskar Gupta, vice principal of SMCH said "the potassium hydroxide test to determine Black Fungal infection came out to be positive. And thebiopsy and culture reports of the patient from Karimganj district which wereavailable on Thursday suggest that the patient is infected with mucormycosis or Black Fungus. The patient is admitted in the Medicine ward of the hospital. Even though he is maintaining a stable health for now, we cannot say he is out of danger as yet. We are watchful and taking proper care and the treatment done is as per the State protocol."

It may be recalled that on May 30, Dr Babul Bezbaruah, principal of SMCH had clarified that the patient was detected for COVID-19 on May 5 at the Karimganj Civil Hospital and he was tested negative on May 11 following which he was discharged. However, with breathing complications, the patient was under treatment at a private hospital in Silchar from May 12 till May 15. Later, on May 26, the patient was brought to the Department of Ophthalmology of SMCH wherein he was examined and found that one eye had swelling, his nerve had problems and nasal obstructions. Subsequently, the Department of ENT did the nasal endoscopy and biopsy and his swab was collected, the reports of which came out on Thursday.

Silchar MP Dr Rajdeep Roy who is also a noted physician had claimed that the Black Fungus or mucormycosis is a very common type of disease and not contagious or life threatening barring when patients immune system is affected. Cachar DC Keerthi Jalli also informed that people must not panic on the issue and said that the patient is kept and treated as per State protocol at the hospital.