In May, an outbreak of a new viral infection referred to as tomato flu, first detected in children in the southern Indian state of Kerala, has spread to two other states.
According to an article in Lancet Respiratory Medicine, till July 26, the virus was detected in 82 children under the age of five in Kerala.
Cases have now been reported in neighboring Tamil Nadu and formerly Odisha, where children below the age of nine have been infected, even though the virus usually affects children under the age of five.
Scientists are still trying to find out what this virus is. It is known as tomato flu because of the painful red blisters that form on the body, and it is very contagious. Children are especially vulnerable because it is easily spread through close contact, such as through nappies, touching unclean surfaces or putting things in the mouth.
“Rare viral infection is endemic and considered non-life threatening; However, due to the dire experience of the COVID-19 pandemic, vigilant management is desirable to prevent further outbreaks,” the Lancet article stated.
Doctors say that tomato flu is difficult to diagnose as its symptoms are very similar to those of covid, chikungunya and dengue fever. The latter two are common in India during the rainy season and are spread by mosquitoes. Chikungunya is particularly widespread in Kerala.
The Lancet article states that tomato flu may be the effect of chikungunya or dengue fever in children rather than a viral infection.
It added: “The virus may also be a new form of viral hand, foot and mouth disease, a common infectious disease that mostly targets children between one and five years of age and immunocompromised adults, and in some cases Studies of hand, foot, and mouth have also been shown to be immunocompromised in adults.”
Dr Sunila Garg, a senior Delhi government health official, said: “I agree that chikungunya and dengue can make children vulnerable to tomato flu because their immune systems are weak. We don’t have any cases in Delhi yet and I am sure this will not become a problem.
The spread of tomato flu comes as India has reported a steady rise in swine flu cases as well as Covid cases over the past few weeks.
Prof Dilip Mavalankar, of the Institute of Public Health in Gandhinagar, said: “There was a decline in swine flu during Covid, but now it is on the rise again in big cities. But since its testing is expensive, very few people get it tested, so the numbers are not clear.”
(This story has not been edited by seemayo staff and is published from a rss feed)