While COVID cases in Mumbai have remained more or less constant with the test positivity rate (TPR) in control, doctors say they are seeing more adults with fever and cough, leading to breathing problems because of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), which generally affects children. Doctors say the virus is highly contagious and has symptoms akin to COVID. 

Dr Kedar Toraskar, critical care specialist at Wockhardt Hospital, said a rising number of patients are coming with COVID symptoms and testing positive for RSV. “Earlier, we did not carry out tests for viral fevers. Since the outbreak, we have been testing more and this year we are finding many testing positive for RSV,” he said.
Patients with symptoms who are testing negative for COVID are now being checked for RSV and swine flu. Dr Toraskar said doctors should suspect RSV or swine flu especially when a patient is not responding to COVID treatment.