Lifestyle

A new coronavirus first identified in Wuhan, China, has global health agencies on high alert—and is causing no small amount of anxiety around the world. But for residents of the United States, there’s still no reason to panic. Here is everything experts know about the new virus, 2019-nCoV, so far. We’ll keep this article updated as more information comes available.

Colloquially known as the “Wuhan coronavirus” after the city where it is believed to have originated, the disease is still poorly understood. The first cases of 2019-nCoV appeared in December in the Chinese city of Wuhan, and likely came from some non-human animal host, though the exact animal and where it came into contact with humans has yet to be identified. Scientists have broadly criticized a recent study suggesting snakes might be the source. The latest claim from Chinese state media—that pangolins, which are frequently poached for their scales, could have passed the virus from bats to humans—lacks robust evidence as well.