Coronaviruses can cause respiratory infections in humans and are named for their crown-like appearance under electron microscopy. Common human coronaviruses include HCoV-229E, HCoV-OC43, SARS-CoV, HCoV-NL63, HKU1, and MERS-CoV. In December 2019, a new coronavirus emerged in Wuhan, China causing pneumonia and was subsequently named 2019-nCoV. It is genetically similar to SARS-CoV and can be transmitted between animals and people through air droplets. Symptoms include fever, cough, breathing difficulties, and pneumonia.