Srinagar, Aug. 29 -- Seasonal respiratory infections are expected to rise during monsoon and winter, placing hospitals under added strain. The advisory issued for patient and healthcare-worker safety makes clear that infection prevention cannot be left to medical staff alone. Patients, attendants and visitors must share responsibility. Masks, hand hygiene, cough etiquette and restricted movement are basic measures that reduce risk. Hospitals are not neutral spaces; they are filled with vulnerable groups; children, the elderly, and those with chronic illness who cannot afford exposure to avoidable infections.

The guidance warns against self-medication with antibiotics for influenza-like symptoms. Influenza is viral, and antibiotics have n...