COVID: “Black Fungus” has exacerbated India’s plight, with 4,194 people reported to have died Coronavirus pandemic news

A government official said that India’s coronavirus outbreak in parts of the country has stabilized, but the death toll on Saturday increased by 4,194 and the infection spread in rural areas. A new infection, called black fungus, also further complicates matters.

At the beginning of this month, India reported more than 400,000 new infections every day, but the number has gradually decreased. On Saturday, government data showed 257,299 new cases.

Health Ministry official Lav Agarwal told reporters on Saturday that active cases in the coastal areas of Maharashtra, Karnataka and Kerala have declined in the past two weeks.

He said that the daily figures are increasing in all states including West Bengal, where the state assembly elections have recently ended, and Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu in the south.

Experts warn that because hospitals are everywhere, the city’s health system is overwhelmed, and vaccines are in short supply, experts warn that India may face a third wave of infections in the coming months.

“although [spread of coronavirus] Many areas of the country have stabilized, reducing the overall burden, and this wave still has a long way to go. “Federal government COVID-19 management team member Dr. VK Paul said at a press conference.

“This is the first time we have seen rural areas affected by this pandemic.”

The country’s total number of infections is 26.3 million, second only to the United States, and the second highest country in the world, while the country’s total death toll is 295,525.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and national authorities have faced widespread criticism for failing to respond to the pandemic, as many officials are stepping up preparations for another pandemic.

The slow rate of vaccination in the country is another big problem.

The chief minister of Delhi said that the authorities were forced to stop vaccinating people between the ages of 18 and 44 as supplies were exhausted.

Black fungus panic

The Indian government has required states to report cases of mucormycosis, also known as Black Fungus -Fatal infections have appeared in patients with coronavirus.

The disease can cause discoloration of the eyes and nose, blurred vision, chest pain and difficulty breathing. In some cases, doctors must remove one or both eyes or part of the chin to prevent the spread of the disease.

All parts of India have also ordered emergency measures to deal with the surge in rare infections among coronavirus patients.

According to medical professionals, people with diabetes are more likely to develop this disease.

On the second day in Rajasthan, Gujarat and Telangana became the latest states to declare a black fungus epidemic.

More than 2,000 cases have been reported in Maharashtra. Officials say there are about 1,200 cases in the hometown of Gujarat (PM Modi).

Al Jazeera’s Elizabeth Puranam reports from New Delhi: “Doctors say that patients with diabetes and weakened immune systems from the coronavirus are particularly susceptible to infection.”

“They believe that the use of steroids to treat severe COVID-19 may exacerbate the condition of people with prediabetes.”