Background

What is a coronavirus?

Coronaviruses are a group of structurally related RNA viruses that primarily cause upper respiratory tract infections in humans. The name corona, meaning crown, comes from the distinct appearance of the virus on electron microscopy, where the outer lipid membrane is punctuated by crown-like spikes1. Historically, coronaviruses were recognised as a cause of the common cold but in recent years several dangerous new strains have emerged which can result in fatal illnesses. These new coronaviruses are the cause of SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome), MERS (Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome) and most recently COVID-19. They are all zoonoses and appear to have been transmitted to humans from bats via intermediate animal hosts. COVID-19, which is caused by the SARS-COV-2 virus, has vastly exceeded the global impact of SARS and MERS to become a major new cause of worldwide morbidity and mortality.