Fact Check: Viral WhatsApp forward about black fungus infection can mislead you

Fact Check

Claims: Black fungus affects everyone and is caused by sweating while wearing masks

NewsMeter looked through various articles and academic reports regarding the black fungus infection and all of them stated that the infection occurs in people with a feeble immune system and not everyone is susceptible to it.

"Mucormycosis is a rare, invasive, fungal opportunistic infection that causes serious, sometimes fatal disease," Dr K.C. Rondello, epidemiologist and special adviser to the Office of University Health and Wellness at Adelphi University told Healthline.

He explained that those at risk for mucormycosis have compromised immune systems that make them susceptible to fungal and other opportunistic infections. As per ICMR guidelines, patients with comorbidities, or those taking medications that suppress their immunity to fight off environmental pathogens are most likely to be susceptible to the ills of black fungus.

Over the last 10-years, doctors have only seen a handful of mucormycosis cases in India, reported USA Today.

According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, people with conditions of AIDS, burns, diabetes (usually poorly controlled), leukemia and lymphoma, long-term steroid use, metabolic acidosis, and Poor nutrition (malnutrition) are people with a weak immune system and more likely to develop mucormycosis.

Meanwhile, Immune-suppressing steroids, prescribed to reduce COVID-19 induced inflammation are a cause as it can leave people vulnerable to fungal infections. Hence not all are susceptible to black fungus infection.

This rebukes the claim that usage of masks is directly related to spread and growth of black fungus and the claim that sweating can lead to black fungus. Although unhygienic surroundings are said to be an issue, it was only in relation to an incident where COVID-19 patients were put on prolonged oxygenation support by using contaminated water. Sweating due to masks being a cause of black fungus is false.

The claim that black fungus can be prevented by maintaining mask hygiene, like soaking masks in soap and Dettol or drying them in the sun, is also FALSE.

Claim: Black fungus infection affects the brain

According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, CDC (Centre for Disease Control and Prevention) the symptoms of mucormycosis depend on where the fungus is growing.

Symptoms of rhinocerebral (sinus and brain) mucormycosis include:

• One-sided facial swelling

• Headache

• Nasal or sinus congestion

• Black lesions on nasal bridge or upper inside of the mouth that quickly become more severe

• Fever

Among the COVID-19 patients in India, rhinocerebral mucormycosis, after infecting a person, the fungus doesn't remain static but spreads through the nose, attacks the eyes, and eventually reaches the brain, at which point it becomes potentially deadly.

Hence, the claim that black fungus affects the brain is TRUE.

Claim: NIMS doctors are the source of the information

NewsMeter went through the websites of Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences and NIMS University Jaipur but couldn't find any such claim or declaration made by either universities or their doctors.

In conclusion, the viral claims regarding the cause and the preventive measures for the black fungus infection are mostly FALSE.

Meanwhile, in the above photograph, there are no credible sources mentioned apart from the name of apparent Doctors & a 'HOD' without the mention of the organization where they practice medicine.

Therefore, both messages are unreliable and FALSE.