A man in Kolkata has become the world’s first human being infected by a plant fungus. A 61-year-old plant mycologist, who has been working with decaying material, mushrooms, and various plant fungi for a long time, was detected with a fungal infection caused by plants
Doctors performed an X-ray and CT scan on the man. The X-ray on the chest came back “normal", but the CT scan results showed a paratracheal abscess in his neck, which can prove to be life-threatening
Doctors treated the person and removed the pus. The sample was sent to WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference & Research on Fungi of Medical Importance, where he was diagnosed with Chondrostereum Purpureum
The patient visited an Apollo Hospital in Kolkata after experiencing a cough, hoarse voice and exhaustion for three months. He has no history of diabetes, HIV infection, renal disease or any chronic disease
The man was treated for plant fungal infection with the help of antifungal medication and the infection has not re-occurred since then
Doctors said that a "paratracheal abscess" in the man's neck was obstructing his airway. Pathogen enters the human body through damaged skin and the respiratory tract and can cause infection mostly in immunocompromised individuals. It might cause death if left undiagnosed or untreated
Chondrostereum Purpureum, commonly known as silver leaf disease, often attacks species of the rose family Rosaceae and causes progressive silvering of leaves on affected branches. It might prove fatal to the infected plants
If you are dealing with plants daily and notice the silvering of leaves, get it inspected by professionals. Wear gloves and avoid coming in contact with the infected plants
Previously, brain-eating amoeba or Naegleria Fowleri had caused the death of a South Korean man. Months later a man in Florida also succumbed to the infection