What Is a Coronavirus? 冠状病毒是什么? Coronaviruses are a family of viruses that typically attack the respiratory ( 呼吸的 ) system. The name comes from the Latin word corona, meaning crown. Under a microscope ( 显微镜 ), the virus looks like a solar corona ( 日冕 ). Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) is a new respiratory illness that has not been seen in humans before. The new coronavirus was first found in Wuhan, China in 2019. Numbers of the infected people there are still on the rise ( 上升 ), with a number of deaths having been reported. The virus has spread to many countries in the Asia-Pacific region, as well as Australia, Europe, North America and the Middle East. According to the WHO, signs of infection include fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. In more severe cases, it can lead to SARS and even death. Coronaviruses are zoonotic, meaning they are transmitted ( 传播 ) between animals and people. SARS, for instance, was transmitted from civet cats to humans while MERS travelled to humans from a type of camel. In humans they're typically spread via droplets ( 液滴 ) of coughing and sneezing of the infected people. Several known coronaviruses are transmitted in animals that have not yet infected humans. There are things you can do to prevent yourself from getting the virus and to help stop the coronavirus spreading. Standard ways include regular hand washing, covering mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing, thoroughly ( 彻底 ) cooking meat and eggs. Avoid close contact with anyone showing symptoms of respiratory illness such as coughing and sneezing. 注释: SARS/MERS : SARS 和 MERS 都是冠状病毒的一种。