But in late 2002, a coronavirus named SARS erupted in southern China, causing severe pneumonia that rapidly spread to other countries. The World Health Organization has counted nearly 2,500 cases of MERS in the Middle East and beyond, and more than 850 deaths. SARS and MERS came from animals, and this newest virus almost certainly did, too. People can catch MERS from infected camels, although again, bats likely first spread that coronavirus to camels, too. The SARS virus killed about 10 percent of people who caught it.

Source: Fox News January 30, 2020 03:22 UTC