The so-called tomato flu has affected greater than 80 minors in a number of Indian states, authorities say
The Indian authorities has issued an advisory to all states amid the unfold of a brand new kind of influenza. Predominantly affecting minors, the viral illness ends in the formation of pink blisters that appear to be tomatoes – therefore the situation’s title, tomato flu.
In response to an announcement launched by India’s Well being Ministry on Tuesday, greater than 82 instances involving kids beneath 5 have been reported, with the illness prevalent within the nation’s southern states. The primary case of the flu was reported in Kerala state on Could 6.
Though scientists consider the brand new flu to be a kind of hand, foot and mouth illness (HFMD), they’ve to this point been unable to determine the precise nature of the pathogen.
Nonetheless, the authorities had been fast to guarantee the general public that the brand new virus isn’t associated to Covid-19 or monkeypox.
Signs of the sickness could be mistaken for these of different viral infections, particularly within the early levels, officers have warned. Youngsters who’ve contracted the illness often develop a fever, lack of urge for food, sore throat, sores within the mouth and a pores and skin rash, principally confined to the palms and ft.
If tomato flu is suspected, a toddler must be positioned in quarantine for as much as per week to forestall the unfold of the virus, the Well being Ministry’s advisory recommends.
Whereas there are not any disease-specific drugs for remedy of the an infection at current, it’s mentioned to be comparatively benign, with signs resolving on their very own inside a couple of days. Officers advise sufferers to take paracetamol to alleviate fever and physique ache, drink loads of fluids, and relaxation. Sizzling water sponges will also be utilized to the rash to alleviate irritation, the advisory mentioned.
Indian authorities have famous that throat and nostril swabs must be taken if tomato flu is suspected, with the samples examined to rule out different infectious ailments akin to dengue, chikungunya, zika virus, varicella-zoster virus, and herpes.
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