Epidemiology and virology of SARS-CoV-2

ABSTRACT

This chapter addresses the basic virological and epidemiologic characteristics of severe acute respiratory syndrome–associated coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). SARS-CoV-2 is a member of the seven human coronaviruses and is one of the three coronaviruses that cause acute respiratory distress syndrome in humans, along with Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) and SARS-CoV. It is an airborne virus although vertical transmission is suspected. Existing evidence shows that children play a small role in the transmission and that newborns have a higher risk of mortality. © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.