Tomato flu: Alert in India for a virus that “hits” mainly children and leaves red marks

In India has sounded the alarm, because in recent months the cases of flu her tomatoof a virus that mainly attacks the children and may not be fatal, but may leave permanent scars and disfigurements.

As it states ABC which republished an article originally published on Lancet Respiratory Medicinethe first infections were spotted on last May in the southern state of Keralawhile by July 26, 82 children under the age of five had been diagnosed positively.

However, cases have been detected in the neighboring state of Tamil Nadu and Odisha in eastern India. In fact, the virus can mainly infect children under the age of five, but the new cases involved ages up to nine.

The origin of the flu and the signs it creates

According to the experts, the tomato flu presents common symptoms with those of coronavirusher chikungunya disease -which takes its name from the Kimakonde dialect of Tanzania and means “one who deforms”- and of dengue fever.

Thus, they believe it may be a consequence of chikunguya or dengue fever in children, rather than another viral infection. “The virus could also be a new variant of viral hand, foot and mouth disease, a common infectious disease that mainly affects children aged one to five years and immunocompromised adults,” the Lancet reports.

So far, the scientists are trying to determine what this particular virus iswhile based on what they know, causes painful red blisters on the body and it is very contagious. In fact, children are particularly vulnerable because the virus is easily transmitted through close contact, such as through diapers, or by touching unclean surfaces and putting objects in the mouth.

As they note, it may not be considered fatal, but it may leave permanent marks on the body, or even deformities, so given the experience of the pandemic, they recommend caution and vigilance, especially for vulnerable population groups.