Not medical oxygen or cow dung, but dirty environment behind sludge: Experts
Mumbai-based Dr. Tanu Singhal has also spoken on secondary bacterial infections among covid patients and mucormycosis.
NAGPUR: Decisive infection in ICU and a very unhygienic environment were equally responsible for the mucormycosis epidemic within the Coronavirus pandemic. As in the indiscriminate use of immunosuppressants among uncontrolled diabetes and covid patients, Infectious disease specialist Dr. Tanu Singhal said at the 108th Indian Science Congress on Wednesday.
Mumbai-based Dr. Tanu Singhal has also spoken on secondary bacterial infections among covid patients and mucormycosis. “It has also been proved that cow dung or medical oxygen cylinders did not cause black fungus at all as was reported earlier. Health workers did not follow infection protocols in the ICU fearing infection with the coronavirus. Our dirty environment spreads most of the fungal spores.” Dr Tanu Singhal said.
With the flesh-eating fungus striking more than 50,000 people between January and May 2021, India was hardly the only country that reported such a large number of mucor patients. “Most of them had rhino orbit cerebral infection – from the nose to the eyes to the brain. It was multi-factorial. There’s an environment, Which is polluted, rotting garbage or material hosting fungal spores, tropical climate, and humidity. His blood sugar was not controlled due to his low immunity, so he was given steroids, which added to the problem.” she said.
US study claimed that the excessive use of cow dung
Dr. Tanu Singhal explains why so many Mucor patients are seen only in India, while Covid has spread across the world. “The number of spores is very high in the Indian environment. Mucor thrives in moist material like garbage. Oxygen cylinders, cow dung, humidifiers, and masks were not the cause of black fungus as previously thought.” she said.
A US study also claimed that the excessive use of cow dung, which was also used to light the pyres of Covid dead bodies, has caused the mumps epidemic in India. “PGI Chandigarh conducted a study on burning cow dung in a household to see the mucor count. It concluded that it was not the cause of mucor,” she said.
She said, “Health workers have not even followed infection protocols in ICUs for fear of contracting coronavirus. The very unhygienic environment in hospitals has also been blamed.”
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