What is a virus?

A virus is a collection of genetic material (DNA or RNA) inside a protein shell. There is much scientific debate about whether viruses are alive. Like living creatures, they carry genes and evolve. But they are unable to reproduce on their own and must infect living cells and hijack cellular machinery (such as ribosomes) in order to copy themselves. Though viruses are tiny, they are fierce. Influenza (the flu) alone has killed tens of millions of humans in the last 100 years.

virus

Watch for symptoms

cough

Cough

fever

Fever

headache

Headache

lung

Hard breath

Reported illnesses have ranged from mild symptoms to severe illness and death for confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases. The following symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure.

  • Fever
  • Cough
  • Headache
  • Shortness of breath

This is based on what has been seen previously as the incubation period of MERS-CoV viruses.

What to do if you are sick How to protect yourself