No Highly Virulent COVID-19 Variant Circulating in Tamil Nadu, Health Department Says
The Tamil Nadu Health Department has clarified that there is no evidence of a highly virulent COVID-19 variant circulating in the state, following recent reports of patient deaths. In a press release issued on Monday, the Directorate of Public Health (DPH) and Preventive Medicine reassured the public that current COVID-19 infection rates remain lower than in previous years and that recent fatalities in Vellore hospitals were primarily due to severe co-morbidities.
The DPH issued the clarification after newspapers reported that two individuals had died due to COVID-19 infections in Andhra Pradesh. The department provided specific details on the cases to address public concern.
One case involved a 52-year-old man from Andhra Pradesh who was transferred from a private hospital in Tirupati to a private hospital in Vellore on June 26 for specialised care. The patient suffered from a Klebsiella pneumoniae bacterial infection alongside a COVID-19 infection, and had co-morbid conditions of diabetes and chronic kidney disease. He died on June 28 due to complications from the severe bacterial infection and acute respiratory distress syndrome.
In another case at a private hospital in Vellore, a 68-year-old man undergoing treatment for colon cancer died after developing respiratory failure. The health department noted that COVID-19 was merely an incidental finding in this case. A third case involved a 46-year-old man from Kadapa district in Andhra Pradesh who died while undergoing COVID-19 treatment at a hospital there; his medical details are currently being reviewed by the Andhra Pradesh Health Department.
The DPH stated that COVID-19 surveillance in Tamil Nadu continues routinely through the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme. Testing is routinely conducted for patients with severe respiratory illness who do not respond to treatment, and as a pre-operative measure before surgeries.
According to official data, COVID-19 infections in the state were confirmed in 990 persons in 2024, 1,250 persons in 2025, and 335 persons so far this year, making a total of 2,575 cases. The department emphasized that these cases were detected through routine surveillance and do not represent an outbreak, with most patients experiencing only mild symptoms.
Whole Genome Sequencing results from the National Institute of Virology in Pune confirmed that the currently circulating variant is associated with mild illness and low community transmission. The DPH advised the public, particularly elderly individuals, pregnant women, and those with chronic medical conditions, to continue practicing preventive measures such as hand hygiene and proper cough etiquette.
