The threat of zoonotic coronaviruses

ABSTRACT

Since 2002, three zoonotic coronaviruses (CoV), SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 have emerged in humans, establishing that emergence of coronaviruses from animal reservoirs represents a significant pandemic threat. SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV led to smaller epidemics with very high case fatality rates while SARS-CoV-2 resulted in a global pandemic. These zoonotic coronaviruses have their likely origins in bat species and they transmit to humans through intermediate hosts. Coronaviruses can occasionally jump between host species due to their high rate of recombination. Pandemic preparedness requires surveillance in animals and occupationally exposed humans and prevention and treatment strategies that have broad activity against coronaviruses.