The ‘tomato flu’ outbreak and the Centre’s advisory

Last Updated26/08/2022

The Health Ministry recently issued an advisory asking States to take measures to prevent spread of the “new virus known as tomato flu”.

A probable variant of the hand, foot and mouth disease, or HFMD.
Commonly occurs in children under 10 years of age and can also infect adults.
India recorded around 100 cases of ‘tomato flu’ in children below 9 years of age in less than three months.
A “highly contagious” yet “non-life-threatening viral” disease.

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Named so because of the “eruption of red and painful blisters throughout the body that gradually enlarge to the size of a tomato.”
A mild viral illness commonly affecting young children typically below age 10.
Usually caused by a Coxsackie virus.

The virus is not related to SARS-CoV-2, monkeypox, dengue, or chikungunya despite similar symptoms.
The disease is a clinical variant of the hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) common in school-going children.
Infants and young children are also prone to this infection through the use of nappies, touching unclean surfaces as well as putting things directly into the mouth.
It is a self-limiting illness and no specific medication exists for its treatment yet.

Fever, rashes and pain in joints.
Illness usually begins with a mild fever, poor appetite, malaise, and occasionally, a sore throat.
Small red blisters appear one or two days after the fever
Usually located on the tongue, gums, inside of the cheeks, palms and soles.
Sometimes, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, dehydration, swelling of joints, body ache, and common influenza-like symptoms are noted.