What is Corona viru s? Coronaviruses are a family of viruses that causes respiratory illness in people once infected. They circulate among animals, including camels, cattle, cats, and bats. They have this crown-like shape or halo thus called - Corona. Coronaviruses are zoonotic, meaning they are transmitted between animals and people.  Detailed investigations found that SARS-CoV was transmitted from civet cats to humans and MERS-CoV from dromedary camels to humans. Several known coronaviruses are circulating in animals that have not yet infected humans.   Common signs of infection include respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. In more severe cases, the infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure, and even death.  How is the Novel Coronavirus, COVID-19 Different from Other Coronaviruses? Just like other viruses that cause smallpox, chickenpox, and monkeypox, different cor...