The coronavirus causing this outbreak is a novel (new) virus that originated in Wuhan, China, in late 2019. Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that cause the common cold, and diseases such as SARS and MERS. This current coronavirus causes a respiratory illness called COVID-19, which can spread rapidly since it is new and no one has yet immunity to it.
Signs and symptoms of this illness include fever, cough and difficulty breathing. COVID-19 can be mild, but has the potential to cause severe disease and death. Available information suggests that older adults and people with underlying health conditions or compromised immune systems may be at increased risk of severe disease.
More information on the coronavirus can be found on The World Health Organization website and the CDC (U.S. Center for Disease Control) website .
