No SL Covid-19 patient has yet contracted black fungus disease, says MRI

by Ifham Nizam

None of the Covid-19 patients in Sri Lanka had contracted the black fungus disease, a senior medical officer said yesterday.

“We have not heard of Covid-19 patients afflicted with mucormycosis yet, said Medical Research Institute (MRI), Head of Department of Mycology, Dr. Primali Jayasekera.

Dr. Jayasekera told the media in Colombo: “This fungus is not new to Sri Lanka. We have reported 42 cases of ‘black fungus’ in 2019, 24 in 2020, and 24 in 2021 so far.

Our country has all the environmental factors needed for its growth. The fungus is present in our soil. Persons with low immunity may get this infection.”

The fungal infection detected in the Ampara District, was not similar to the black fungus now widely detected in India, the Health Ministry said.

A 35-year old COVID-19 patient was admitted to the Ampara Hospital on May 4 after being infected with a fungal infection.

That detection raised much concern and discussion in Sri Lanka regarding the infection.

Deputy Director-General of Education and Research at the Ministry of Health Dr. Hemantha Herath said that experts yesterday (May 24) had allayed fear of the black fungus disease.

There was not enough information about a suspected black fungus case in Ampara, Dr. Prasad Colombage, an executive committee member of the Government Medical Officers Association said.

“In India it has led to deaths. Research is still being carried out to find out the link between the fungus and Covid-19.