Thursday, 10 June 2021 | PNS | Dehradun
The experts of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Rishikesh have warned that using unclean cloth masks could lead to the infection of Mucormycosis (Black Fungus). They point out that continuous wearing of the mask allows germs to grow due to moisture and create a favourable environment for fungus to grow which enters nose and mouth and gradually infects other parts of the body.
The director of AIIMS Rishikesh, Dr Ravikant said that a lot of people are using cotton masks but one should ensure that they are washed properly before use. “It is not necessary that someone who has not been Covid positive, they cannot have Mucormycosis. People who do not wash and clean non-disposable masks daily can also get this disease. Both Covid -19 and Mucormycosis can be prevented only with correct use of masks and complete adherence to the Covid guidelines,’’ he said.
The nodal officer, Covid -19, AIIMS Rishikesh, Dr P K Panda said that due to the lockdown, most of the non-Covid patients remain careless about their health tests. “Due to lack of health check-up, they are not able to detect immunity and sugar level in blood. In such a situation, when sugar increases, they are more likely to have Mucormycosis,’’ he said. Dr Panda informed that a total of 185 beds have been reserved in AIIMS-R for Mucormycosis patients. These include 65 beds with ICU facilities.
