WHO warns against misuse of antibiotics in Afghanistan

The World Health Organization (WHO) office in Afghanistan has warned against the misuse and self-administration of antibiotics, stating that such practices can have serious consequences for public health.

In a message on the social media platform X, the WHO emphasized that antibiotics are ineffective against viral illnesses such as the common cold and influenza. It noted that these conditions are primarily caused by viruses, while antibiotics only work against bacterial infections.

The organization cautioned that indiscriminate and prescription-free use of antibiotics can lead to antibiotic resistance, making future treatment of bacterial infections more difficult and costly.

WHO urged Afghan citizens to use antibiotics only as prescribed by a doctor and to avoid self-medication, warning that continuing this trend could seriously threaten individual and public health.

This comes amid reports that three months after the Taliban ordered a halt to drug trade with Pakistan, medicine prices in Kabul's market have risen by up to 40 percent. Official drug trade has stopped, and many medicines are now entering the market through smuggling routes.