Bengaluru, Jan 6 (Reporter) Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao has urged caution against sensationalising the recent detection of a Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) case in India, asserting that the virus is neither new nor a cause for alarm. Speaking to reporters on Monday, Rao said, "There is no need to press the panic button. HMPV is an existing virus, and people have been affected by it in the past. The claim that this is the first case in India is misleading." Referring to reports about the affected child having no travel history, he dismissed speculations of international links. "The child has no connection to travellers from countries like China or Malaysia. There is no evidence to suggest that this case is related to anything new," he stated. Rao also criticised the government for not providing complete information about the case. "We lack full details on this matter. The government must ensure transparency. While PCR testing is available, it is unclear if the virus poses a serious risk requiring extensive measures," he added. HMPV, a respiratory virus, is known to cause infections, particularly among children and the elderly. Health experts have advised monitoring but emphasised that it is not a novel pathogen...////...