The novel coronavirus detected in China is genetically closely related to the 2003 SARS virus and appears to have similar characteristics, although there is still limited data available on this virus.
SARS emerged at the end of 2002 in China and more than 8 000 SARS-cases were reported by 33 countries over a period of eight months. At the time, one in ten people who contracted SARS died.
The current COVID-19 outbreak caused around 10 000 reported cases in China during the first month of the outbreak, with additional cases subsequently being detected in Europe and other countries (see current situation update). At this point, there is too little data available to say for sure how deadly COVID-19 is but preliminary findings indicate that it is less fatal than SARS coronavirus.
While both SARS-CoV-2 and influenza viruses are transmitted from person-to-person and may cause similar symptoms, the two viruses are very different and consequently do not behave in the same way. It is still very early to draw conclusions on how SARS-CoV-2 spreads, but preliminary information indicates that SARS-CoV-2 is as transmissible in the same way as SARS and some other pandemic influenza strains have been.
ECDC estimates that each year up to 40 000 people in the EU, the UK, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein die prematurely due to causes associated with influenza.
All you need to know on Coronavirus
Where do Coronaviruses come from?
What is COVID-19? What is SARS-CoV-2?
Is this coronavirus comparable to SARS or to the seasonal flu (influenza)?
What is the mode of transmission?
How (easily) does Coronavirus spread?
Can someone spread the coronavirus without being sick?
Are some people at more coronavirus risk than others?
Is there a treatment for the COVID-19 disease?
When should I be tested for COVID-19?
How does the Coronavirus spread?
Have there been other coronaviruses?