Tomato flu: Kids entering K’taka from Kerala being screened

Mysuru: In the wake of Tomato flu in neighbouring Kerala state, district health officers in Mysuru have deployed staff to examine children entering Karnataka near Bavali in HD Kote, from Kerala.
In the last two days, about 45 children travelling in cars, bikes, and buses have been examined for tomato flu symptoms. No positive cases were found, according to health officers. Though tomato fever cases have been reported some 250 km away from the border areas, health care authorities are not taking any chances.
HD Kote taluk health officer Dr T Ravikumar said no symptoms of tomato flu were detected in children between 0 and 5 years entering Karnataka from Kerala. Passenger movement from the check post is only around 25%. The rest is the movement of goods vehicles.
“We have deployed two staff to examine children of that age group and to note down addresses and contact telephone numbers of parents or guardians as a precautionary measure and they will work from 6am to 6pm. On Friday, about 19 children were examined,” he said.
Meanwhile, the nearby primary health centre in DB Kuppe and all panchayat officers have been alerted to be cautious about the flu. “So far no case has been detected in this part of the region bordering Kerala,” the taluk health officer stated.
The Chamarajanagar district administration is also screening visitors from Kerala at Moolehole check post in Bandipur Forest Reserve.