Black fungus found in Covid-19 patients in Sri Lanka

• Patients with black fungus have been found in Sri Lanka since 2019

By Sheain Fernandopulle

COVID-19 patients who have been diagnosed with ‘Black fungus’ have been detected from several areas of the country, Deputy Director-General of Health Services Dr. Hemantha Herath said yesterday. 

He said cases had been reported from several hospitals including Colombo National Hospital, Kurunegala, and Ratnapura.

"The symptoms of this disease develop depending on the place where fungus appear on the body. The fungus can be found on the skin, around eyes, nose, brain, and lungs," he explained.

“The fungus is in the environment. People with extremely low immune systems are prone to this fungus,” Dr. Herath added. He proceeded to say that this disease does not spread from person to person and there was no possibility of it turning into a pandemic.

Patients with black fungus had been found in Sri Lanka since 2019. However, this is the first time COVID-19 patients were observed being infected with black fungus.