The Public Health Department issued a statement on X to confirm that a student at Anna University who recently passed away died from scrub typhus. This is the sole reported case of the disease at the campus. There was no indication of a dengue outbreak, despite earlier rumours that a dengue epidemic had begun.
Students, alarmed by the reports, hurried to the university’s primary health centre for dengue testing. The centre staff were prepared for a surge in patients, but the tests largely returned negative and the cause of death was ruled as scrub typhus.
Officials stressed that the university’s health services are monitoring the situation closely and that no further cases have been reported. They urged students to seek professional medical advice if they experience symptoms rather than relying on rumours.
