New Tomato flu variant creates health scare among kids in several states

As India reopened after two dreadful years of Covid-19, the country saw a re-emergence of infectious diseases and a new variant of the hand-foot-and-mouth disease, also known as tomato flu, created quite a scare across many states. Tomato flu is a rare viral infection that could be a new variant of the viral hand-foot-and-mouth disease, a common infectious disease targeting mostly children aged one to five years.

Initially, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Odisha reported tomato flu cases. Tomato flu was first identified in the Kollam district of Kerala, on May 6, 2022. The Kerala Health Department took precautionary measures to monitor the spread of the viral infection and prevent its spread in other parts of India. In September, Assam reported over 100 cases of tomato flu, sounding an alarm for the state health department. The maximum number of cases were reported from two schools in Dibrugarh district.

The Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu governments had also issued advisories on tomato flu. Though the tomato flu disease is not seen as life-threatening, healthcare experts warned that any further spread of the disease may hit schools again after the Covid-19 pandemic. Health officials also said that the chances of adults contracting the disease are feeble. Bhawuk Dhir, dermatologist at Delhi’s Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, said that this is a clear sign of heading towards an era of viral diseases.