Assam health department seems to be on alert as more than 100 cases of tomato flu, commonly known as hand, foot, and mouth illness, have been reported in the state in the past month. 

A senior Assam National Health Mission (NHM) official stated that the Dibrugarh district in upper Assam recorded the highest number of cases (100), most of which were reported from two schools. Therefore, the health department has advised the districts to isolate the affected youngsters for seven days. The department also stressed on early case identification in the pediatric outpatient clinics in the district hospitals by the district health officials.  The health department has not formally compiled the number of confirmed cases in the state.

An earlier warning from the health officials stated that only Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Haryana, and Odisha had recorded cases of tomato flu in the whole country until August 23.

Although several viruses can cause the illness, the health department sources said that "Coxsackie" was to blame for the spread in regions of Assam. Unwashed hands, contaminated surfaces, and even the air can spread coxsackie from one person to another. Experts, therefore, advised people to practice good hygiene to stop the spread. If a kid is infected, they should be kept in isolation for a week as the disease is still mild and self-limiting, and the patient mostly recovers within a week.

(Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/guwahati/100-tomato-flu-cases-in-assam-in-1-mnth/articleshow/94467340.cms)