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The fearedÌý"black fungus" illness that has been grippedÌý has now killed two people in one area of , health officials have confirmed.

health services spokesperson, Ammar Al-Zamili, acknowledged the deaths from the diseaseÌýovernightÌýMonday, according to °®Âþµº's Arabic-language service,ÌýAl-Araby Al-Jadeed.

He said the cases occurred in Nasiriyah, Dhi Qar's capital city but stressed that theÌýillness is "very rare".

He said the disease is developed through "exposure to mould" in the soil and rotting fruit and veg,Ìýnoting that those with conditions such as cancer and diabetes are most at risk.

The infection, officially "mucormycosis", is not transferred from human to human contact.

It targets areas including the eyes and brain,ÌýFrance 24Ìý²õ²¹¾±»å.

This admission followed a message from the governorate health department, which rejected the suggestion anyone had died from the infection in the area,ÌýAl-Araby Al-JadeedÌý²õ²¹¾±»å.

The outletÌýstated that medical insiders said on Monday the first death was a "cleric", according toÌýIraqi media.

The presence of black fungus in the deceased was only identified "by chance".

US Center for Disease Control figures that around half of those infected from the disease will die.

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According to the Iraq News Agency, Iraqi public health director Abdul Amir Al-Halfi said on Monday: "The black fungus is a very rare disease that affects the immunocompromised and has nothing to do with [Covid-19]".

±á´Ç·É±ð±¹±ð°ù,ÌýFrance 24Ìýsaid experts have linked the illness to coronavirus-related immune problemsÌýduringÌýits India coverage.

The rise of the illness in India is due to poor hygiene, Al-HalfiÌýsaid, explaining that travel from India had not yet led to any infections in Iraq.

The situation has been deemed an epidemic in many parts of India, London's City A.M. said on Saturday.

As of that date, over 300 had died from the fungus in the South Asian nation,ÌýFrance 24Ìý°ù±ð±è´Ç°ù³Ù±ð»å.

City A.M. also reported that Pakistan has likewise seen black fungus infections.

The deaths in Iraq come amid a recent development in the nation's fight against Covid-19.

On Saturday, it was reported in Iranian state media that acknowledged thatÌýIran is set to receiveÌý$125 million in previously frozen funds fromÌý.

These are to cover a purchase of 16 million Covid-19 vaccine doses.