Star Health Issues Post Cyclone Health Advisory for Coastal Andhra Pradesh

Coastal Andhra Pradesh has been hit by two cyclones in quick succession, Arnab and Murasu. Prakasam (Ongole), Nellore, Bapatla, Guntur, Krishna, Palnadu, NTR, East Godavari, West Godavari, Visakhapatnam and Srikakulam are among the districts affected or likely to be affected. Heavy rain, waterlogging and disruption to power and transport have been reported across the coastal belt.

Two storms over the same districts leave standing water and disrupted sanitation as the main health concern. Star Health and Allied Insurance Company Limited (NSE: STARHEALTH; BSE: 543412), one of India's leading standalone health insurers, is urging families across coastal Andhra Pradesh to follow official advisories and keep medical consultation within reach.

The health risk now builds in the days after the rain. Contaminated supply lines and open storage can carry typhoid, cholera, hepatitis A and diarrhoeal illness, while water collecting in containers and terraces breeds mosquitoes that spread dengue and malaria two to three weeks later. Roads, power and transport stay disrupted for days, which makes reaching a doctor harder at exactly the point when advice matters. Senior citizens, children and people with existing conditions are most vulnerable, and because early symptoms look alike, only a doctor can tell them apart. Star Health is urging households to take simple precautions now and to seek medical advice early.

· Drink only boiled or chlorinated water and store it covered.

· Wash hands with soap after any contact with floodwater, and discard food it has touched.

· Avoid wading through floodwater, keep cuts covered, and stay clear of waterlogged electricity poles.

· Clear stagnant water from containers, tyres and terraces, and use mosquito nets, mosquito repellents and full sleeved clothing.

· Keep regular medicines, prescriptions and oral rehydration salts ready and dry.

· Consult a doctor early for fever, diarrhoea, vomiting, body ache or skin infections rather than self-medicating, and seek immediate attention for breathing difficulty, high fever, bleeding or dehydration.

· Follow district health and municipal instructions on drinking water, sanitation and fogging.

· Avoid low-lying areas, canals and streams, and move to a safe shelter when authorities direct.

Mr. Srinivas KBB, Business Head, Andhra Pradesh, Star Health Insurance, said: “A fever that appears a week or two after the water drains is the one families tend to wait out, and it is exactly the one a doctor should see. Roads stay blocked and transport unreliable for days afterwards, which makes a hospital visit difficult exactly when advice is needed most. Our advice to households in the coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh is to seek doctor consultation from the safety and comfort of home. This will help people seek medical advice at the first sign of illness without delay. We encourage families to stay vigilant, follow hygiene precautions and use teleconsultation whenever needed.”

Reaching a doctor without stepping out: With travel and power disrupted in parts of the region, Star Health policyholders have unlimited teleconsultations and can call Talk to Star on 7200 222 333, 8 am to 8 pm, for guidance on cashless processes and network hospitals. Where a doctor advises that a condition can be managed at home, cashless Home Health Care covers nursing, blood tests, IV fluids and injections, subject to policy terms. Its utilisation in Andhra Pradesh grew 4.2X between April and September 2026, compared with the same period in 2025. Non policyholders can book a free Virtual Doctor Consultation on the Star Health app, 8 AM to 8 PM.