The Ministry of Health (MoH) on Tuesday reported three covid-related black fungus in the Sultanate for the first time.
Black fungus, also known as Mucormycosis, is a rare but dangerous infection. It is caused by getting into contact with fungus spores in the environment.
“The black fungus is not a virus and there can be many guesses about the causes of infection for the three announced cases,” Dr Zakariya al Balushi, Consultant of Infectious Diseases, explained.
He said, “The cases must be studied before any conclusion because this kind of fungus affects certain people and in certain circumstances,” confirming that there is no need to panic.
He advised not to spread rumours and that people should continue taking vaccinations and not pay attention to malicious rumours.
On Tuesday, the ministry also announced the highest daily cases of Covid-19, which stood up at 2,126 and 33 deaths, bringing the total number of cases registered in the Sultanate to 238,566, and 2,565 deaths.
The recovery rate continued to decline to reach 89 per cent, with 212,064 total recoveries. One hundred sixty-four covid patients were admitted to hospitals across the country, bringing the total number of inpatients to 1,247, including 374 in intensive care units.
The ministry clarified that 10,000 samples arrive daily to the ministry’s laboratories, 26 per cent of which are positive.
As the cases continue to escalate, the ministry called upon all to adhere to precautionary measures, wear masks, wash hands constantly with water and soap, and use sanitisers.
On Sunday, the Sultanate announced the detection of laboratory-confirmed cases of the fast-spreading mutant, known as "Delta", after Bahrain, which detected the mutated virus on May 2.
Kuwait also announced on Monday infections with the mutant in the country.
Dr Said Mohammad bin Saeed al Toubi, medical laboratory specialist, said the surge in cases had been observed globally, and he attributed this increase to "the spread of mutated strains, including the Indian, which has a rapid spread.
Late last month, the World Health Organization said that the mutated "Delta" strain of the Coronavirus had reached more than 60 countries worldwide and is 60 per cent more contagious than the British one, warning of the expansion of its spread.
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