Vol. 1, Issue 1, Part A (2019)

Coronavirus is causing an outbreak first identified in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China. Cases have been exported to Thailand, Japan, and South Korea external icon. No cases have been identified in the United States. Chinese health authorities have reported that patients have experienced fever, cough, difficulty breathing and pneumonia. Coronaviruses are named for the spikes that protrude from their membranes, like the sun’s corona. Such viruses cause several illnesses of the respiratory tract, ranging from the common cold to severe diseases like SARS. According to the World Health Organization, common signs of infection include fever, cough, and respiratory difficulties like shortness of breath. Serious cases can lead to pneumonia, kidney failure and even death.