What is 'tomato flu' as little-known illness infects 82 children
manchestereveningnews.co.ukMedics have warned of a new virus appearing to infect children and result in a painful rash. Named the "tomato flu", the virus is reported to have already infected 82 children, mostly under the age of five, says the Daily Record .
So far it has been contained to Kollam district of Kerala in India but following the global effects of Covid-19, health officials are keeping a close eye on the virus.
Dr Subhash Chandra, assistant professor of Internal Medicine, Amrita Hospital, Kochi told India Today : "It is not a fatal disease, but it is contagious and can spread from person to person, although the actual ways in which the infection spreads are still being studied. "Patients who develop tomato fever should drink plenty of fluids and rest in bed, as it is also advised for other viral fevers, to keep the body hydrated and well-rested.” The rise of tomato flu in India has prompted the country’s government to issue an advisory to all of its 28 states, the Independent has reported.
Here are some key facts around the condition, which may change or be expanded upon as more research is carried out. READ MORE: 'Winter will be a humanitarian crisis unless dangerous hospital bottleneck is solved', warn NHS medics According to The Lancet, a peer-reviewed medical journal, tomato flu appears to be a new virus that is likely spread through close contact, although the exact nature of the virus is still be examined.
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