The head of the fungi reference laboratory unit in the Ministry of Health, Dr. Khaled Al-Obaid said that there is no evidence indicating any direct relationship between the emerging coronavirus and the black fungus disease, Al Qabas reported.
Al-Obaid, a clinical microbiologist consultant, added in a statement to Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), today, Tuesday, that this fungal disease is not contagious and does not cause epidemics.
He explained that calling this disease the black fungus is wrong, as the fungi are called by scientific names and it is not correct to call them black or other colors, and the correct name is the mucous fungus.
He mentioned that it is a common fungus in the environment, such as soil and plants, as well as in the air, and like other living organisms, it plays an important role in the process of ecological balance, such as the analysis of organic matter and others.
He pointed out that this type of fungus may lead to the occurrence of some serious diseases, such as sinusitis that may sometimes extend to the eyes and brain, as well as pneumonia, especially in patients who have severe immunity weakness and patients with diabetes.
Al-Obaid stated that the spread of this fungal disease in India has been observed in patients with Covid-19 disease, causing serious infections that include the sinuses that may sometimes extend to the eyes and brain.
He pointed to a recent study in 18 countries in Europe, America, and Asia that showed that the cases of the mucous fungus associated with Covid-19 are very few compared to India.
Regarding prevention, he indicated that immunocompromised patients should adhere to health measures, and as for diabetics, they must maintain the regularity of blood sugar levels by following the doctor’s instructions, in addition to following preventive measures as well as vaccination.