Odisha: 26 Children Diagnosed With Tomato Flu, 19 From Bhubaneswar. All Stable For Now

Of the 26 children who were found to be infected with HFMD, 19 are from Bhubaneswar, three from Puri and two each from Cuttack and Puri, according to Mohapatra

26 children were diagnosed with hand, foot, mouth disease also known as tomato flu in Odisha. (Representational)

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New Delhi: About 26 children were diagnosed with hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) in Odisha and their condition is stable, said a health official, reported news agency Press Trust of India. 

HFMD, an infectious disease is caused by intestinal viruses and occurs mostly in children. The illness is rare in adults as they usually have immune systems strong enough to defend them from the virus.

Probable symptoms in most of the cases include  fever, painful sores in the mouth and rash with blisters on hands, feet and buttocks, according to the World Health Organisation.

Out of the 36 samples that were collected and tested in the Regional Medical Research Centre in Bhubaneswar, 26 were found to be HFMD positive, Health Services director Bijay Mohapatra told reporters.

Of the 26 children who were found to be infected with HFMD, 19 are from Bhubaneswar, three from Puri and two each from Cuttack and Puri, according to Mohapatra.

"Those infected were in the age group of 1-9 yesterday and have been asked to remain in isolation for five-seven days," the official said, quoted by the news agency.  

The condition of the patients is not serious and surveillance is being maintained, he added.

Earlier this month, over 80 cases of the HFMD were reported from Kerala's Kollam district, prompting the neighbouring states of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka to increase their vigilance in the border districts, reported the news agency.