Kolkata, May 25 (TIWN) Though the state health department is yet to confirm any deaths owing to mucormycosis, commonly known as Black Fungus infection, seven persons have been infected and eight more are suspected to be suffering from Black Fungus infection in the state.

While the woman from Haridevpur died at Shambhunath Pandit Hospital on Friday, a 62-year-old man is fighting for life with the infection at Belle Vue Clinic. His condition is stated to be serious. Health department sources said another patient from the state is undergoing treatment in a nursing home. Earlier, at least four cases of suspected black fungus have been reported in the state, but the patients were from neighbouring states. With states like Maharashtra and Rajasthan declaring mucormycosis an epidemic, doctors have been flooded with calls from panicked patients who have recovered from Covid. Black fungus happens in the mouth and is triggered by a mould found in soil or decaying organic matter. Victims get the disease by breathing in the fungal spores. Air humidifiers in homes and hospitals and water tanks breed black fungus.