Bhubaneswar, Jul 13: Odisha has sounded an alert in its border districts after two Covid-related deaths were reported in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh’s YSR Kadapa district last week. Health authorities have directed district medical officers to intensify surveillance, testing and precautionary measures, officials said on Monday.

According to official sources, a 52-year-old man from Rajampeta in Kadapa died while undergoing treatment at Christian Medical College, Vellore, after developing symptoms of cold, cough and fever. Another 42-year-old patient succumbed at the Government General Hospital ICU in Kadapa. Eight fresh infections were also detected in the district, reviving concerns about the virus.

Following the reports, Odisha’s Directorate of Public Health has asked Chief District Medical Officers in seven border districts — Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Gajapati, Ganjam, Nabarangpur and Kalahandi — to remain vigilant. Suspected cases showing Covid-like symptoms are to be tested at district headquarters hospitals.

Odisha’s Public Health Director Dr. Rabindra Nath Mishra said Covid is currently in an endemic stage and does not pose the same widespread threat as during the pandemic. However, he advised individuals with comorbidities to remain cautious and seek immediate medical attention if symptoms appear. Senior physician Dr. Niroj Mishra echoed the view, stressing that precautionary measures should not be ignored.

Koraput CDMO Dr. Guru Prasad Mohanty urged residents to stay alert, noting that the district shares a porous border with Andhra Pradesh, where cross-movement of people is frequent. With the onset of monsoon, seasonal illnesses such as cold, cough and fever are on the rise, making vigilance essential.

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Health experts emphasised that while Covid is unlikely to trigger large-scale outbreaks in its endemic phase, vulnerable groups remain at risk. Authorities have reiterated the importance of testing, treatment and adherence to Covid guidelines whenever symptoms emerge.

The alert marks a renewed focus on preparedness in Odisha, four years after the pandemic first disrupted lives, as officials seek to prevent any resurgence of the virus in border regions.