The Ministry of Public Health on Saturday reported three cases of “black fungus” disease linked to COVID-19 in three provinces of the country, warning against inattention by the people to precautions to limit the spread of the coronavirus. 

Call as called mucormycosis, the fungal disease has a 50% mortality rate, the acting minister of public health, Wahid Majroh, said at a press conference. He added that the cases were reported in Kabul, Baghlan and Samangan. 

One of the three patients has died of the fungal disease, doctors said. 

He said COVID-19 significantly reduced patients’ immunity and opens the way for the fungal disease that affects patients initially in the nose, but the fungus can then spread into the brain, and can often only be treated by major surgery removing the affected part of the body. 

A 45-year-old woman is one of the patients infected with the fungal disease who is under treatment at a hospital in Kabul. The woman who shows signs of black fungus has shown the symptoms of the disease after 12 days of fever and breathing difficulties as doctors explained.  

Her relatives said she also suffers from diabetes and is also infected with the coronavirus. 

“There was an ulcer in her mouth, first, and then her situation went critical,” said Gulbuddin, husband of the woman.  

Doctors said the woman is in critical condition and that she cannot open her eyes.  

“The fungus has spread to his tongue and face. It attacks many areas and affects eyesight,” said Mirani Baradzada, a doctor.  

The Ministry of Public Health on Saturday reported 1,272 new positive cases of COVID-19 out of 4,760 samples tested in the last 24 hours.  

The ministry also reported 92 deaths and 935 recoveries from COVID-19 in the same period. This shows a slight increase in daily COVID-19 deaths as well as recoveries.  

The number of total recorded cases is 124,757 and total deaths are 5,199, according to figures by the Public Health Ministry.