Tomato fever: Tamil Nadu on its toes after cases in Kerala

Speaking to indianexpress.com, Dr P Aruna, the deputy director of health services, Coimbatore, said the district has deployed three teams to monitor the border round-the-clock.

“Three teams comprising revenue inspectors, health inspectors and police have been deployed on a shift basis. They will note down if someone has fever and rashes,” Arun said.

How can tomato flu be treated? How to take care of it?

Like other cases of flu, tomato fever is also contagious. “If someone is infected with this flu, they need to be kept in isolation as this could spread rapidly from one person to another,” Dr Aruna said.

It is essential to prevent children from scratching the blisters caused by the flu. Proper rest and hygiene is also advised. Utensils, clothes and other items used by the infected persons must be sanitised to prevent the flu from spreading.

Fluid intake would also help counteract dehydration. Most importantly, it is important to seek your doctor’s advice if you notice the above-mentioned symptoms.

This flu is a self-limiting one and there is no specific drug for this. If someone is infected with this flu, they need to be kept in isolation as this could spread rapidly from one person to another,” Aruna said.

Dr Aruna added that the flu affects children below five years of age. She also said that the authorities are also screening the anganwadi centres across the district and close to 24 mobile teams with health officers have been deployed to carry out the process.