Health Ministry issued advisory regarding Tomato Flu, cases increased rapidly in many states

The Union Health Ministry has issued an advisory on 'Tomato Flu', also known as Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD), after over 100 cases were reported in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Odisha and Haryana. The advisory states that it is a self-limiting disease that mostly targets young children aged 1-10 years and immune-compromised adults and that no drug exists to treat it.

Union Health Ministry on Tomato Flu

The Union Health Ministry has said that tomato flu can be a type of common hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD), which is common in school going children. This virus is not related to SARS-CoV-2, Monkeypox, Dengue or Chikungunya at all. The ministry has said that recent reports have suggested it to be Coxsackie A17, which belongs to the group of enteroviruses. This disease is also known as tomato flu. Guidelines have been issued by the government regarding the testing, prevention and treatment of hand, foot, mouth disease

How to prevent from Tomato flu

Sanitization is the best defense for this. If someone gets this disease, then first of all he should be put in isolation for 5 to 7 days. Along with this, the patient should take complete rest and should take a lot of fluid along with it. Sponging on the skin with warm water reduces the irritation in the skin, so it is more important for such patients who have had this disease to sponge on the body with lukewarm water. 

Experts say that children should be encouraged to use handkerchiefs as much as possible. Do not scratch any part of the body on which the blisters are lying. Wash children's clothes thoroughly. In the meantime, give nutritious diet to children. He said that by taking a sample from the throat and sending it to the laboratory, it can be checked whether the patient has tomato plu or not.