Health authorities in India are on high alert after a mysterious illness has broken out with symptoms similar to monkeypox, Express reported.
The virus, known as "tomato flu" or "tomato fever", has left authorities scrambling as more than 80 cases reported in children in India since May 6. The disease gets its name because of the red blister it causes, with the virus mainly affecting children under the age of five. Similar to the monkeypox virus, infected children are observing symptoms like the appearance of large rashes on the whole body, in the form of round and red blisters which are extremely painful and contagious.
According to local reports, the flu can also cause tiredness, joint pain, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, coughing, sneezing, runny nose, high fever, and body ache. In some cases, the virus has also reportedly changed the colour of the legs and the hands. This illness also causes dehydration in children, which then leads to the appearance of, irritations near the mouth.
According to several virologists, "tomato fever" could be a new variant of the foot-hand-mouth viral infection, which is very common in young children.
So far, there have been no reported deaths from this virus. However, doctors have so far not discovered a specific treatment for this illness and are currently only tackling the symptoms of the flu.
