Different infectious diseases spread at different rates in various population profiles. There always remains a minority of population which becomes the reason for fast and wider spread of the infectious diseases. This minority segment which infects disproportionately more susceptible people compared to other individuals who infect few, is identified as Super-Spreaders.

In the case of spread of Covid19 in India, a recent epidemiological survey carried out in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh pointed out that the spread of Covid19 is mainly due to the Super-Spreaders. The study becomes relevant to understand and reflect upon, as the number of deaths due to COVID19 in India has crossed one lakh. The survey used in the study has pointed out that around 8% of people with Covid19 infection account for 60% of new infections. The survey was carried out by Center of Disease Dynamics, Economics and Policy in coordination with the governments of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

The study also pointed out that 70% of infected people did not infect any of their contacts. The study also pointed out that the highest risk of infection was for people in the age groups of 0-14 years and above 65 years. It also pointed out that the case fatality ratio decreased over the course of the raging pandemic. This was indicated in the data by the point that the people who contracted the disease in July 2020 are 26% less likely to die than those who contracted it in March 2020. The study carried out in the two states also showed that 63 per cent of those who died had at least one co-morbidity, and that 36 per cent had two or more underlying health conditions that made them more susceptible to the disease. It also showed that almost 45 per cent of those who died were diabetic.