American Academy of Family Physicians

Health of the Public


Novel Coronavirus
The coronavirus derives its name from the "corona," or halo, surrounding each virion. This is due to the presence of viral spike peplomers emanating from its proteinaceous envelope.

As Novel Coronavirus Outbreak Continues, WHO, CDC Urge Heightened Vigilance

(5/23/2013, 5:05 p.m.)  --  As of May 22, 43 laboratory-confirmed cases -- 21 of which have proved fatal -- of novel coronavirus (nCoV) infection had been reported to the World Health Organization. According to a recent update from the CDC, which is closely monitoring the outbreak, 31 of the nCoV cases were reported in Saudi Arabia, along with a handful of others from Qatar, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates and elsewhere. Other cases -- three in the United Kingdom, two in France and one in Germany -- were reported in Europe. More