Tomato Flu advisory in Uttar Pradesh

News Desk

Uttar Pradesh health department has issued advisory for Tomato Flu, to all health facilities across the state asking them to follow preventive measures for the disease.

With over 82 children below the age of five sickened by the illness in southern states, particularly in Kerala, and 26 other children reported sick in eastern Odisha, the country is on high alert. Union health ministry has issued testing and prevention guidelines to states following a surge of a new influenza virus variant.

Central government has issued an advisory to states on the Hand Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD), which is commonly known as Tomato Flu. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare informed that Tomato Flu was first identified in the Kollam district of Kerala on May 6 and as of July 26, more than 82 children younger than five years with the infection have been reported by the local government hospitals.

Also called hand foot and mouth disease, Tomato Flu is a self-limiting infectious disease that is identified with the symptom – tomato-shaped blisters on the body. The best solution for prevention is maintenance of proper hygiene and sanitisation of the surrounding. Also preventing the infected child from sharing toys, clothes, food, with other children, says advisory from union health ministry and the same shared with all the chief medical officers in Uttar Pradesh by the infectious disease department.

Tomato flu virus shows symptoms similar to other viral infections (fever, fatigue, body ache, and rashes) but the virus is not related to SARS-CoV 2, monkeypox, dengue or chikungunya. Reports suggest it to be Coxsackie A 17 that belongs to the group of entoeroviruses, said the advisory.

Among the children the primary symptoms are similar to other viral infection such as fever, rashes and pain in joints. Tomato flu is a self-limiting disease and no specific drug exists to treat it hence the best option is to adhere to preventive measures of proper hygiene.

According to the advisory if a person is infected the others should avoid contact with infected person. Children should be told not to hug or touch other children having fever or rashes. Don’t rub or scratch the blister and wash hands each time you touch blisters.

The advisory has also mentioned ways to take sample from suspected cases and how to transport the sample to lab. The advosiry has been circulated to all medical institutes all district level hospitals including women hospitals, community health centres and all private hospitals to follow the protocol.