The Indian Medical Association issued a public health advisory on Wednesday warning against the self-medication of antibiotics like azithromycin and cefixime to treat the current H1N1 influenza surge.
Delhi has reported over 1,770 laboratory-confirmed H1N1 cases, with additional infections identified in Maharashtra, Karnataka, and West Bengal, though the IMA confirmed no new genetic mutations in the virus.
Doctors emphasized that H1N1 is a viral illness that does not respond to antibiotics, urging the public to avoid panic as most infections remain mild and self-limiting.