Karachi, Pakistan has seen a dramatic increase in cases of respiratory infections with the onset of winter, health experts shared recently, linking the spike in these illnesses directly with worsening air quality. The experts specialising in internal and pulmonary medicine, critical care and ear-nose-throat diseases, underscored the need for promoting and prioritising lung health which, they said, had been overlooked by the government as well as citizens for too long. “Yes, we have been seeing an increasing number of [influenza] patients this winter compared to last winter. Patients are reporting at the outpatient clinics as well as the hospital’s emergency department,” said Prof Dr Javaid Ahmed Khan, senior pulmonologist at Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH).