A new virus has been discovered in India, known as “tomato flu”, which has infected more than 100 children, including 82 under the age of five. The first cases of infection were detected on May 6.
The alert is left by the experts at An article published a few days ago in the scientific journal “The Lancet”.He explained that “while we are dealing with a possible emergence of the fourth wave of Covid-19, a new virus known as ‘tomato flu’ or ‘tomato fever’ has appeared in India, in Kerala state, in children under the age of five.”
Scientists explain that “tomato flu is highly contagious” and that the virus is “endemic.” For now, they point out, it is not life-threatening for those infected, but say that “given the terrible experience of the Covid-19 pandemic, vigilant management is advised to prevent outbreaks of new diseases”.
It is called “tomato flu” because red blisters appear on the bodies of those infected with the virus, which increase in size until they reach the approximate size of a tomato. Symptoms include fever, muscle aches, arthritis, and fatigue.
The article adds that “children are at increased risk of contracting tomato flu, as the viral infection is common in this age group and likely to be spread through close contact.”
Also in the Indian state of Odisha, 26 children (aged 1-9 years) were reported to have contracted the disease in Odisha by the Bhubaneswar Regional Medical Research Centre. So far, other than Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Odisha, no other region of India has been affected by the virus.”
The article’s authors note that “so far, in addition to [dos estados indianos] Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Odisha, no other region in India has been affected by the virus.”
To the Indian press, Subhash Chandra, of Amrita Hospital, noted that this “is not a fatal disease, but it is contagious and can spread between people, although the actual ways of spreading the infection are still being studied”.
The same source advises people who show symptoms of “tomato flu” to drink plenty of fluids and rest.
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