Human coronaviruses were first identified in the mid-1960s. Most people will contract a coronavirus
during their lifetimes. Human coronavirus usually causes mild to moderate upper-respiratory tract
illness. The five coronaviruses that can infect people are alpha coronaviruses 229E and NL63 and beta
coronaviruses OC43, HKU1, and SARS-CoV. This last is the coronavirus that causes severe acute
respiratory syndrome, or SARS (CDC, 2013). SARS is the coronavirus that is most well-known around the
globe. The new coronavirus called MERS (for Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome) is causing concern
globally, much like SARS did ten years ago.