Mumbai: Even before the monsoon has arrived, Mumbai is witnessing an uptick in viral infections, with doctors reporting a simultaneous rise in Covid-19, H1N1 (formerly swine flu), other influenza A viruses and the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).City doctors said Covid has made a quiet comeback over the past week after H1N1 dominated clinics for nearly a month.At Breach Candy Hospital, pathologist Dr Sanjay Mehta said his laboratory is detecting more than seven positive cases of either Covid or H1N1 every day. “The Covid cases started appearing a few days ago,” he said.Senior physician Dr Hemant Thacker admitted one Covid patient each at Breach Candy and Bhatia hospitals on Saturday. “Patients are presenting with high fever and respiratory symptoms. We saw a lot of swine flu over the last month, but in the last seven to 10 days, Covid has also begun showing up,” he said, adding that his OPD is seeing a few fresh Covid cases daily.Bombay Hospital physician Dr Gautam Bhansali said multiple viruses are circulating simultaneously. “Viruses are ruling right now. We are seeing swine flu, influenza A and RSV. They cause high-grade fever and severe lung infection, needing hospitalisation,” he said, adding that high humidity levels are ideal for viruses to thrive.At Fortis Hospital, Mulund, infectious diseases specialist Dr Anita Mathews said viral illnesses continue to dominate consultations. “Flu cases are common in the OPD right now. There are also many patients with gastroenteritis, though most are viral,” she said.BMC executive health officer Dr Daksha Shah said a couple of Covid cases have been reported, but “we believe these cases are mainly due to the ongoing weather change”.Doctors said the current Covid infections are not severe, but the elderly and people with comorbidities remain vulnerable. “Viral infections like Covid can weaken the lung’s interstitial tissues,” Dr Thacker said.Doctors suspect the delayed monsoon may be allowing respiratory viruses to linger longer than expected. “The viruses floating in the air could well be a side effect of the absent rains. Once the monsoon sets in, these cases are likely to subside,” Dr Thacker said.Covid-19 claimed millions of lives in India between 2020 and 2022, while H1N1, first identified during the 2009 pandemic, continues to trigger periodic outbreaks in metro cities, with severe cases often requiring prolonged and expensive hospital treatment.
