Officials answer whether Egypt has black fungus cases or not

CAIRO – 23 May 2021: Head of the Scientific Committee for Combating COVID-19 Hossam Hosny said in a phone-in Saturday that there is no country in the world that does not have black fungus cases as it is the outcome of very low levels of immunity.

Member of the same committee Mohamed al-Nadi told Al Watan newspaper that Egypt has three black fungus cases in three different governorates.

Further, Former Minister of Health and Member of the Health Committee at the House of Representatives Ashraf Hatem told Al Watan newspaper Sunday that severe viral infections coupled with heavy use of antibiotics and cortisone cause fungus infection, including black fungus.

Hatem stated that a number of black fungus cases have been detected in Egypt. Yet, those are not infected with the Indian variation of COVID-19 as black fungus occurs in some pneumonia cases in general, he underscored. It is noted that the Ministry of Health and Population has denied that the Indian variation has appeared in Egypt.

The former minister added that certain types of fungus may be more common in precise spots in the world but barely exist in others highlighting that fungus common in Egypt are Monilia, which is a white fungus and can be easily treated. Hence, he pointed out that the spread of black fungus in India does not have to become a worldwide phenomenon.

Member of the Scientific Committee for Combating COVID-19 Mohamed al-Nadi pointed out that a polluted environment is a significant factor either. For instance, getting exposed to large quantities of dust and rotten vegetables and fruits frequently coupled with low immunity can incur black fungus infection.

Notable Physician Hany al-Nazer highlighted in a phone-in Saturday that AIDS patients may also be vulnerable to black fungus infection and not just COVID-19 patients regardless of the variation.

Data coming from India indicate that black fungus has been common among diabetic COVID-19 patients, and has killed 50 percent of those who got infected with it. It is noted that the diseases is not contagious.