Since the beginning of 2020, especially after the appearance of the COVID-19 wave, the number of patients with black fungus, or mucormycosis has increased rapidly.

Mucor sp./CDC

At Bach Mai Hospital in Hanoi, there have been more than 20 cases of black fungus hospitalized for treatment.

Most of these patients had underlying disease on admission and in severe infection, there were fungal lesions that spread from the sinuses to the jawbone, eye sockets, nervous system, etc.

According to doctors, black fungus is an invasive fungus that has been mentioned in the literature, especially in India in the recent period with a sudden increase in the number of patients, which is one of the causes of death after being infected with COVID-19.

Zygomycosis, or mucormycosis, is an acute fungal infection from a number of genera of molds.

Infections with these fungi typically cause disease that is rapidly progressive, destructive and associated with a high fatality rate of 50% of higher.

It is most prevalent in those with a weakened immune system or other debilitating disease like diabetes. These fungi have an affinity for blood vessels, and cause thrombosis, infarction and tissue necrosis.

It is not communicable from person-to-person.