It was only discovered in India. However, in (Indonesia), the disease has not been found
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin confirmed that mucormycosis, or black fungus, which poses a risk of infecting the respiratory tract of COVID-19 patients, had yet to be detected in Indonesia.

"It was only discovered in India. However, in (Indonesia), the disease has not been found," the minister replied in connection to a query posed about the black fungus disease in Indonesia after inaugurating the Traveloka Vaccination Center here on Wednesday morning.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the Indonesian Lung Doctors Association, Agus Dwi Susanto, noted in a written statement to reporters that the COVID-19 pandemic was a persisting health problem in nearly all nations of the world, including Indonesia.

"According to the latest news, several countries, such as India and Malaysia, experienced a very significant spike in cases," he remarked.

In India, many cases of black fungus are found as a deadly infection that appears in patients infected with the coronavirus.

"Patients infected with black fungus show symptoms of discoloration of the eyes and nose, blurred vision, chest pain, and difficulty breathing," he stated.

Hence, the Indonesian Lung Doctors Association has appealed to the public to beware of black fungus, especially among people with COVID-19.

In the meantime, lung specialist at the Persahabatan Hospital, Erlina Burhan, noted that black fungus can trigger allergies, infect the respiratory tract and the human brain, and also triggering death.

She noted that prolonged steroid consumption in the healing process of COVID-19 patients has the potential to trigger the appearance of black fungus in the sufferer's body.

"Long-term use of steroids can weaken the immune system. If it attacks, of course it can cause shortness of breath that is quite severe if it is aggravated by the COVID-19 disease," the specialist noted.


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