(Image source from: businesstoday)

Tomato flu is a rare disease that was traced and reported in Tamil Nadu, Kerala. The person gets red-coloured rashes, skin irritation and dehydration. The illness is caused due to tomatoes because of which it is called Tomato flu. Children below the age of five years in Kerala are getting infected with Tomato flu. Karnataka Health Minister Dr K Sudhakar asked the people not to panic about the illness and the researchers told that it is not related to the ongoing Covid-19. The cases of Tomato flu are reported in Anchal, Aryankavu and Neduvathur. The people across the border districts of Udupi, Mangaluru, Kodagu, Mysuru and Chamrajnagara are asked to keep a close watch.

There are hundreds of travelers coming from Kerala to Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Large red blisters in the size of a tomato, joint swelling, high fever, fatigue and body aches are the symptoms of Tomato flu. The symptoms of Tomato flu are similar to chikungunya. The health experts asked the people not to worry as Tomato flu is not related to Covid-19 though the symptoms are similar. The authorities across the South Indian states are alerted and Tomato flu is endemic in Kerala.

By Siva Kumar