Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia is a disease caused by a novel coronavirus that has not been previously identified in humans. What is the new coronavirus? The new coronavirus belongs to the β genus of new coronaviruses, has an envelope, the particles are round or oval, often polymorphic, and the diameter is 60-140 nm. Its genetic characteristics are distinctly different from those of SARSr-CoV and MERSr-CoV. The current study shows more than 85% homology with bat SARS-like coronavirus (bat-SL-CoVZC45). When isolated and cultured in vitro, 2019-nCoV can be found in human respiratory epithelial cells in about 96 hours, while isolation and culture in Vero E6 and Huh-7 cell lines take about 6 days. Source of the new coronavirus Gao Fu, academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and director of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), said at a press conference at the State Council Information Office on the 22nd that the source of the new coronavirus was wildlife illegally sold at a seafood market in Wuhan. Learned from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, since the occurrence of the new coronavirus outbreak, from the South China seafood market, 585 environmental samples, 33 samples were detected to contain the new coronavirus nucleic acid, the nucleic acid detection of positive samples of viruses using coronavirus sensitive cell virus isolation work, from the observation of the electron microscope, PCR and in-depth sequencing results are suggestive of the successful isolation of the new type of environmental samples to the coronavirus, further confirming the presence of a large number of novel coronaviruses (2019-nCoV) in the environment of South China Seafood City. Which wild animals carry coronaviruses Many wild animals may carry pathogens and become vectors of certain infectious diseases, e.g., civets, bats, bamboo rats, badgers, etc. are common hosts of coronaviruses. Since the evolutionary neighbors and outgroups of Wuhan novel coronavirus are found in various types of bats, it is presumed that the natural host of Wuhan novel coronavirus may also be bats. Therefore, it is recommended not to eat unquarantined wild animals, fresh food, such as meat sold at roadside stalls, and not to take risks for the sake of “taste”. Who is susceptible to the novel coronavirus? People are generally susceptible. Novel coronavirus pneumonia can occur in both immunocompromised and immunocompetent people, depending on the amount of virus exposure. Even immunocompetent people may become ill if they are exposed to a large amount of virus at one time. In immunocompromised people, such as the elderly, pregnant women, or those with liver or kidney dysfunction, the disease progresses relatively quickly and is more severe. Can novel coronaviruses be transmitted from person to person Based on current evidence, it has been determined that novel coronaviruses can be consistently transmitted from person to person. The main route of transmission that has been identified is respiratory droplet transmission, in which droplets from sneezing, coughing, and talking of patients, and inhalation of exhaled gases in close contact can lead to infection. It can also be spread through aerosols, where droplets are mixed in the air to form an aerosol, which can lead to infection when inhaled. In addition, it can also be spread by contact, where droplets are deposited on the surface of an object, or by picking the nose or rubbing the eyes with a hand that has been in contact with the virus. Source: Dr. Yurai Reference: CDC Public Protection Guidelines for Pneumonia Infected by the New Coronavirus Science Net – CCTV Reporter Shi Yingchun reports on the causes of the new pneumonia in Wuhan What triggered the coronavirus in Wuhan?