At least 564 people are currently undergoing treatment for mucormycosis in Maharashtra's Pune district, while 27 patients have died of the ailment so far, a senior official said on Tuesday.

Mucormycosis, also known as black fungus, is a serious infection which has been found in several Covid-19 patients in Maharashtra and some other states. In order to identify suspected cases of mucormycosis, the Pune district administration has started screening Covid-19 survivors in rural areas to ensure they get necessary medication and are timely referred for further treatment, he said.