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BENGALURU (Reuters) - The Indian government has told doctors to look out for signs of mucormycosis or "black fungus" in COVID-19 patients as hospitals report a rise in cases of the rare but potentially fatal infection.

The state-run Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) said at the weekend that doctors treating COVID-19 patients, diabetics and those with compromised immune systems should watch for early symptoms including sinus pain or nasal blockage on one side of the face, one-sided headache, swelling or numbness, toothache and loosening of teeth.

The disease, which can lead to blackening or discolouration over the nose, blurred or double vision, chest pain, breathing difficulties and coughing blood, is strongly linked to diabetes. And diabetes can in turn be exacerbated by steroids such as dexamethasone, used to treat severe COVID-19.

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Herd immunity unlikely: The world may need to live with the virus

Mon, 2021-05-10 10:07 — mike kraft

The world may need to learn to live with the virus.

Early in the pandemic, there was hope that the world would one day achieve herd immunity, the point when the coronavirus lacks enough hosts to spread easily. But over a year later, the virus is crushing India with a fearsome second wave and surging in countries from Asia to Latin America.

Experts now say it is changing too quickly, new more contagious variants are spreading too easily and vaccinations are happening too slowly for herd immunity to be within reach anytime soon.

That means if the virus continues to run rampant through much of the world, it is well on its way to becoming endemic, an ever-present threat.

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Considerations in flying safely a year into the pandemic

Sun, 2021-05-09 13:37 — mike kraft

How to fly safely a year into the pandemic The pandemic is still with us well into 2021, but the urge to travel is growing stronger as millions get vaccinated daily. Get the latest advice from medical experts on how to fly as safely as possible. By Sandee LaMotte, CNN CNN

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India's vaccination campaign falters amid growing number of coronavirus cases.

Sun, 2021-05-09 12:55 — mike kraft

As cases grow, India's vaccination campaign falters BENGALURU, India (AP) — Since India opened vaccinations to all adults this month, hoping to tame a disastrous coronavirus surge sweeping across the country, the pace of administering the shots has dropped with states saying they only have limited stock to give out... AP NEWS

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Some countries, especially in Africa, still have no COVID-19 vaccines

Sun, 2021-05-09 12:29 — mike kraft

Vaccine deserts: Some countries have no COVID-19 jabs at all N'DJAMENA, Chad (AP) — At the small hospital where Dr. Oumaima Djarma works in Chad's capital, there are no debates over which coronavirus vaccine is the best. There are simply no vaccines at all... AP NEWS

N’DJAMENA, Chad (AP) — At the small hospital where Dr. Oumaima Djarma works in Chad’s capital, there are no debates over which coronavirus vaccine is the best.

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