Will tomato flu spread as quickly as COVID-19? How the Centre is gearing up to fight the disease

Tomato flu, which is mostly seen in kids, is a non-life threatening however extremely contagious virus. PTI

Even because the world grapples with coronavirus and monkeypox infections, India additionally now has to take care of Hand Foot and Mouth Illness (HFMD), generally referred to as tomato flu. The illness which was first detected in kids in Kerala in Might has now unfold to the neighbouring states of Tamil Nadu and Odisha.

Based on an article within the Lancet Respiratory Medication, 82 kids aged beneath 5 have been recognized with the virus in Kerala as of 26 July.

The Lancet article stated, “The uncommon viral an infection is in an endemic state and is taken into account non-life threatening; nonetheless, due to the dreadful expertise of the COVID-19 pandemic, vigilant administration is fascinating to forestall additional outbreaks.”

The Centre too has taken notice of the state of affairs and has issued an advisory to states to forestall the illness from additional spreading in addition to steps to take for remedy.

Ought to India be nervous about this new illness? Will it unfold like COVID-19 throughout the nation? What steps can we take to maintain ourselves secure from the illness? We reply these questions and rather more.

What’s tomato flu?

Based on the Lancet report, Tomato Flu is a non-life threatening however “highly-infectious illness”. Specialists consider the virus could possibly be a brand new variant of the Hand Foot Mouth Illness (HFMD), a standard infectious illness that targets kids beneath the age of 5 and immunocompromised adults.

Tomato Flu or tomato fever is characterised by fever, joint ache and crimson tomato-like blisters normally seen on kids under the age of 5.

Those that undergo from the illness additionally usually complain of signs corresponding to diarrhea, dehydration, nausea and vomiting together with fatigue. In some instances, it could additionally change the color of the legs and the arms of the particular person stricken with the illness.

Initially, medical consultants believed tomato flu to be an after-effect of dengue and chikungunya, however now consider that it’s HFMD brought on by enteroviruses corresponding to Coxsackievirus A-6 and A-16.

The place has it been discovered?

Tomato flu was first recognized in Kerala’s Kollam district on 6 Might. As per the Lancet examine, the virus, which reveals signs just like these of COVID, isn’t associated to the fast-spreading virus in any respect.

Since then, the nation has reported 82 instances. In Kerala, the virus has been detected in kids within the areas of Anchal, Aryankavu and Neduvathur.

Aside from Kerala, 26 kids under the age of 9 have been confirmed to have contracted the virus in Odisha, and are being handled on the Regional Medical Analysis Centre in Bhubaneshwar.

Furthermore, kids in Tamil Nadu and Haryana too have been reported with tomato flu.

Is the virus spreading sooner now?

No. Dr Ekta Gupta, professor of virology on the Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences was quoted as telling the Indian Categorical, “HFMD just isn’t a brand new an infection, we’ve examine it in our textbooks and it has been reported sometimes throughout the nation. However, it’s not quite common.”

She stated that the eye on the an infection is extra this yr as a result of there’s extra vigilance among the many public owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. She additional defined that for the reason that illness is self-limiting (people who resolve spontaneously, with or with out particular remedy), medical doctors normally didn’t take a look at for it up to now.

“There are such a lot of viral infections in kids however we can not take a look at for every one in all it. Nonetheless, we are actually seeing an increasing number of viral infections as a result of testing for viral infections has elevated during the last 5 years with virology labs being arrange throughout the nation. And the pandemic has given an additional push to such surveillance,” she was quoted as saying.

How does it unfold?
The virus, which causes painful blisters, is extremely contagious and kids are notably weak as a result of it spreads simply by way of shut contact, corresponding to through nappies, touching unclean surfaces or placing issues in mouths.

Prevention and remedy

Based on consultants, the mortality price in tomato flu isn’t excessive and will be handled simply. Based on consultants, listed below are some methods to guard your self from the illness.

– Drink extra water and liquid content material
– Attempt to drink extra boiled water
– Don’t contact blisters
– Keep good private hygiene
– Keep bodily distance from suspected instances

If contaminated by tomato flu, sufferers ought to isolate and relaxation and keep hydrated. Moreover, for signs corresponding to fever and physique ache will be handled with paracetamol.

How has the Centre reacted?

The Centre on Tuesday issued an advisory to states asking them to give attention to preventions. The advisory has stated that anybody suspected to have the an infection ought to stay in isolation for 5 to seven days after the onset of the signs.

Additionally, kids have to be educated in regards to the illness and requested to not hug or contact different kids with fever or rashes. Kids must be inspired to take care of hygiene, cease thumb or finger sucking and use a handkerchief in case of a chilly.

If kids develop signs, they need to be remoted, their utensils and clothes together with their bedding have to be recurrently sanitised and so they have to be saved hydrated. If a baby has blisters, these must be cleaned with heat water.
The Centre has stated that throat or nasopharyngeal samples together with faecal samples must be collected inside 48 hours of the sickness being detected.

With inputs from companies

Learn all of the Newest Information, Trending Information, Cricket Information, Bollywood Information,
India Information and Leisure Information right here. Observe us on Fb, Twitter and Instagram.