An Indian farmer became the first victim of the rare fungal ailment known as Silver Leaf disease, which is known to be fatal for plants, generating a major panic.The 61-year-old Indian farmer who apparently produced mushrooms asked for help after three months of exhibiting flu-like symptoms and swallowing difficulties, according to reports.
It follows a warning from US health authorities last week about the Candida auris fungus, which noted that the disease has tripled in recent years and grown resistant to numerous drugs. The disease, which may kill up to 60% of individuals it infects, can also kill 60% of those who contract it. The WHO received the case papers from the doctors treating the patient, and that is likely where the news first surfaced. It found out that the patient's early scans had indicated a windpipe infection.
According to a Daily Mail report, the diagnosis of chondrostereum purpureum was made after the surgeons extracted the pus and sent samples for testing. The fungus, according to the report, infects plants and creates a sickness known as silver leaf disease that makes plants' leaves turn metallic before slowly killing them. It's thought that he contracted the illness while studying the plant and working closely with moulds, yeast, and mushrooms.
The man had a history of interacting with "decaying stuff, mushrooms, and various plant fungus," according to the doctors who treated him. The fact that the illness can affect "both healthy and immunocompromised patients raises major questions."
The symptoms of Silver Leaf disease
The patient was admitted to the hospital as a result of a chronic wheeze, hoarseness of voice, and weariness that he had been unable to get rid of for three months, according to medical personnel at The Apollo Multispecialty Hospitals. The individual reportedly had swallowing difficulty and a scratchy throat, but he was otherwise healthy and not at risk.The incident's date was not included in the case summary. The man's chest's X-ray results were "normal," according to inspection. However, a CT scan revealed the man's paratracheal infection in his neck.
Such abscesses can clog the airways and create infections that can be fatal if they are not recognised and treated quickly once. Often, it is managed with antifungal medications and surgery to drain it. After the pus was completely drained and transported to the World Health Organization-collaborating institution in northern India for testing, the guy was given two cycles of antifungal medicine for two months.
Local researchers gave the condition the name Chondrostereum purpureum. The researchers asserted that there had never before been any evidence that a particular kind of fungus could infect humans.Two years later, doctors declared the man to be disease-free.
There are millions of fungi in the world today, but very few of them can infect both humans and animals.The researchers highlighted the recent emergence of various novel harmful fungus.Furthermore, they stated that a worsened climate will "open Pandora's Box for emerging fungal illnesses." Rising temperatures cause fungi to mutate more frequently, which could raise their medication resistance and enhance their capacity to live in the human body.
