Four cases of ‘white fungus’ or ‘candidiasis’ have been detected in Bihar on May 19, 2021. The patients are admitted to the government-run Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH). This is when Mucormycosis or black fungus cases in India are on a massive surge. White fungus is considered to be more dangerous than black fungus but the mortality is currently unknown. It can affect the lungs as well as other parts of the body including the nails, skin, stomach, kidney, brain, private parts, and mouth. Patients affected with white fungus show Covid-like symptoms but they test negative. The white fungus was detected when high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) was performed on the infected patient. All infected patients are tested with a fungus culture of their phlegm or mucus to detect infection in their body. The four patients are currently being treated with antifungal medication and are stable. Similar to black fungus infection, those with low immunity are at a greater risk of getting infected. These include diabetes, cancer patients, patients who are on steroids for a long period of time, coronavirus patients who are on oxygen support. On 20th May 2021, the Central government asked the states and Union territories (UTs) to make black fungus a notifiable disease under the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897.
