New study reveals origins of COVID-19 pandemic and future risks.
Three new coronaviruses emerged in the early 2000s, causing outbreaks like SARS in 2002, MERS in 2012, and COVID-19 in 2019. These viruses adapt to humans by changing a protein that helps them infect our cells. They come from bats and can spread to humans directly or through other animals. The viruses evolve in bats, leading to new strains that can infect people. This information helps us understand how these viruses can jump from animals to humans and cause outbreaks.