Human Coronavirus

Overview

There are seven coronaviruses that can infect people. People around the world commonly get infected with these four human coronaviruses: 229E, NL63, OC43, and HKU1. They usually cause a mild to moderate upper-respiratory tract illness, like the common cold that people catch every year.

Sometimes coronaviruses that infect animals can evolve and make people sick, and become a new human coronavirus. The three coronaviruses listed below are examples of this and are known to cause severe disease:

• SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19)
• MERS-CoV
• SARS-CoV

Prevention

Getting vaccinated lowers the risk of severe illness and death from SARS-CoV-2.

Reporting

MERS-CoV and novel SARS-CoV is a reportable condition by providers. SARS-CoV-2 is only reported by laboratories.