04/02/2023

What is the new coronavirus? A rise in cases of the mysterious respiratory virus has infectious disease experts worried the illness will spread worldwide.

A newly identified respiratory virus that causes pneumonia was recently discovered in China.
Cases of the virus, a type of coronavirus, have spread in China, and have also been reported in nearby countries in Asia, prompting U.S. health officials to start screening passengers coming from Wuhan to several airports in the United States. One patient in the U.S. has been diagnosed with the disease and is recovering, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.
Here’s what to know about the coronavirus.
What is a coronavirus?
Coronaviruses are a group of viruses that can cause a range of symptoms including a runny nose, cough, sore throat and fever. Some are mild, such as the common cold, while others are more likely to lead to pneumonia. They’re usually spread through direct contact with an infected person.
The coronavirus gets its name from the crown-like spikes on its surface, according to the CDC. (Corona is Latin for crown.) Including the newly identified form of the virus, there are a total of seven coronaviruses that can infect humans, the CDC says. Other well-known coronaviruses include SARS and MERS.
The new virus is called 2019-nCoV. It’s unclear how easily it spreads from person to person, but the CDC recommends that anyone who may have been exposed to the illness monitor themselves for 14 days after close contact with an infected person.
Let our news meet your inbox. The news and stories that matters, delivered weekday mornings.
Symptoms to watch for include fever, cough, shortness of breath, trouble breathing, body aches, sore throat or vomiting and diarrhea.
Is it like SARS?
No. SARS, or severe acute respiratory syndrome, is a type of coronavirus that was first reported in Asia in February, 2003.
Over the following months, the illness spread to more than two dozen countries, sickening 8,098 people worldwide, killing 774.
However, 2019-nCoV is a different strain. It’s unknown at this point if the new virus is as severe or as contagious as SARS. While some patients in China have had serious illness, other patients have had milder illness and been discharged.
Is there a coronavirus vaccine?
There is no specific treatment for the new virus, and no vaccine to prevent it. The National Institutes of Health confirmed Tuesday it’s in the “very preliminary stages” of research to develop a vaccine, but declined to provide details.
In addition, the drug company Regeneron is in the early stages of work on a potential treatment for this coronavirus. The company previously developed a similar treatment for Ebola.
Do disinfectants kill the coronavirus?
Yes, they can. The CDC suggests that anyone exposed to an infected patient clean all “high-touch” surfaces, such as counters, tabletops, doorknobs, bathroom fixtures, toilets, phones, keyboards, tablets and bedside tables.
Cleaning agents can include a household disinfectant with a label that says “EPA-approved,” according to the CDC. A homemade version can be made, using one tablespoon of bleach to one quart of water.
What’s the risk this will spread in the U.S.?
CDC officials maintain that the likelihood this coronavirus will spread from person to person in the U.S. is low. However, isolated cases from travelers are likely. The first case in the U.S. was reported by CDC officials on Jan. 21: a male in his 30s who traveled from Wuhan.
Passengers traveling from China are being screened at major airports, including New York’s JFK airport, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport.
Follow NBC HEALTH on Twitter & Facebook.