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They keep on coming. No End in sight Covid-19, Monkey Pox, and now Tomato Flu

New Delhi – Feels like Corona, looks like monkeypox, but is said to be tomato flu.

In addition to fever, headache, and fatigue, symptoms of the virus include vomiting and diarrhea, according to the Lancet Respiratory Medicine Journal. Painful red blisters also spread all over the body - and can get as big as tomatoes. Hence the name of the disease.

So far, 82 children under the age of five in India have been affected by the tomato flu – also known as tomato fever. In addition, a case was found in Kerala in May 2022. But what is really behind the contagious disease?

Despite the similarity, scientists believe tomato flu is unrelated to Covid-19. In addition, the rash is not life-threatening. Instead, the researchers suspect the virus could be an after-effect of chikungunya or dengue fever.

Virologists explain: "The clinical picture has been known for a long time." They confirm the fever connection. "The fever, in turn, is often transmitted by mosquitoes. It is endemic and is found throughout most of the southern hemisphere. It causes this rash in about 50 percent of infected children."

According to the expert, tomato fever is not a new virus. It should also have nothing to do with influenza, we know. "But you still have to watch it. The images startle many people, but I don't think it will develop into anything dramatic."

Because of the high risk of infection, infected people must still be reported and isolated for around five days.