Concern as 5 black fungus patients die at Patna hospital

PATNA: At least five patients succumbed to mucormycosis or black fungus at the Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (IGIMS) here on Sunday. The fungal infection has so far claimed lives of 17 patients at the IGIMS.
Meanwhile, the state recorded 920 fresh Covid cases and 41 deaths due to the virus in the last 24 hours. With this, the state’s Covid toll has increased to 5,381.
IGIMS superintendent Dr Manish Mandal said two mucormycosis patients died within hours of admission on Sunday.“Both had come in a very critical condition and were on ventilator. The other three patients were also on ventilator support in the intensive care unit of the hospital,” Dr Mandal said, adding in case of mucormycosis, medicines start showing their effects after four days. “In several cases, patients come to the hospital in a critical condition, making it difficult for doctors to save their lives,” he said.
Dr Mandal said eight mucormycosis patients were discharged from the hospital on Sunday. “Altogether 155 mucormycosis patients are currently undergoing treatment at the hospital,” he added.
Meanwhile, AIIMS-Patna reported four Covid deaths on Sunday and the youngest of the victims was a 25-year-old man from of Majhauli in Phulwarisharif. The hospital had 104 Covid patients on Sunday. A 62-year-old man from Naubatpur died at Nalanda Medical College and Hospital here on Sunday due to Covid.
Of the 920 fresh Covid cases registered in the state on Sunday, Patna accounted for 87, Supaul 56, Madhubani 52, Katihar 50, Darbhanga 49 and Purnia 48.
Meanwhile, 64,692 people received their vaccine shots in the state on Sunday, including 39064 in the age group of 18 to 44 years.