Govt issues Tomato flu advisory to states

Centre has sent an advisory to states on HFMD (Hand Foot & Mouth Disease), commonly known as Tomato Flu, stating that it's a self-limiting illness targeting mostly young children aged 1-10 years and immune-compromised adults and no specific drug exists to treat it.

The advisory further mentioned that although the Tomato Flu virus shows symptoms similar to other viral infections (fever, fatigue, body aches & rashes on the skin); the virus is not at all related to SARS-CoV-2, monkeypox, dengue, and/or chikungunya.

The best prevention is the maintenance of proper hygiene & sanitization of the surrounding. Isolation should be followed for 5-7 days from the onset of any symptom to prevent the spread of infection to other children or adults.