Can Black Fungus (Mucormycosis) Spread through Farm Chickens? Know the Truth

Along with the second wave of COVID-19, India is also dealing with black, white, and yellow fungus.  The infection from Covid has somehow slowed down, but the black fungus pandemic is wreaking havoc across the country. People recovering from COVID-19 are now coming under the grip of black fungus. The fungus enters the patient’s body through the nose and mouth and then damages the lungs and other body parts. 

A post is going viral on social media that the black fungus infection is spreading through chicken and that’s why Punjab Government has declared the poultry farm as an infected area. It is claimed in the viral post that black fungus is spreading due to eating farm chicken.  

People are sharing it on WhatsApp, Facebook & Twitter.  

But there’s no truth in it. There is no scientific evidence that the infection can spread from chickens to humans. The viral post was claimed fake by a verified Twitter Account, PIB Fact Check. 

Click here to read the PIB Fact Check’s claim.  

What are the Symptoms of Mucormycosis (Black Fungus)? 

• Nasal Pain 

• Swelling on the Cheek 

• Fungus patches inside the mouth 

• Eyelid swelling 

If a patient exhibits mucormycosis symptoms, must be treated as a medical emergency and clinical diagnosis must be carried out immediately.  

Suspected patients should undergo appropriate radio-imaging study- 

• MRI PNS (paranasal sinuses) with brain contrast study for PCOM 

• Plain CT thorax for pulmonary mucormycosis 

Who are more likely to be Infected by Mucormycosis? 

• Patients on immune-suppressants or anti-cancer treatment 

• Patients with the chronic debilitating illness 

• Patients with uncontrolled diabetes 

• Patients on high dose steroids and or long duration of steroids  

• Patients with severe COVID-19 

• Patients on oxygen support- nasal springs, by mask, or on the ventilator