Representative image MUMBAI: Dengue cases have been rising sharply across the city, said doctors, even though the BMC has officially stated that only eight patients were diagnosed between July 1 and 11. An added complication this monsoon, said doctors, was that several dengue patients have been coming in with symptoms of cold, cough and low oxygen levels that are now synonymous with Covid-19. Infectious diseases specialist Dr Om Srivastava said people associated dengue with a drop in white blood cells and platelets, but “we now have dengue patients with cough, cold and lower respiratory ailments”. It isn’t as if dengue’s symptoms have changed but Covid has changed us, said Dr Gautam Bhansali from Bombay Hospital near New Marine Lines. “People have become very observant, especially with cough, cough and blood oxygen levels. All these symptoms are part of most viral fever, be it Covid or dengue,” he said.