Within weeks, it has spread to several countries and has killed multiple people.

在幾周之間，它已散播到數個國家，並奪走許多人的性命。

Corona refers to the virus's distinctive shape.

冠狀指的是這種病毒獨特的形狀。

They are a large group, common among mammals and birds.

冠狀病毒是個大家庭，常見於哺乳類及鳥類。

But in rare cases like this one, they can spread to humans - a process known as zoonosis.

但在這種罕見的例子中，病毒能夠傳染給人，也就是所謂的人畜共通。

This new virus is the seventh known human coronavirus,

這個新病毒是第七個已知能傳染人類的冠狀病毒，

and it affects the respiratory system.

而它影響呼吸系統。

Some coronaviruses have mild symptoms; however, others are much more dangerous.

一些病毒僅顯示輕微的症狀；然而其他的相當危險。

SARS and MERS are both coronaviruses.

SARS 和 MERS 都是冠狀病毒。

The most urgent question is how does it spread?

最急迫的問題是：它如何散播？

It seems that the virus can be transmitted between humans, but it's still unclear whether this happens routinely.

這種病毒似乎能夠在人與人之間傳播，但目前仍不清楚是否為常例。

Some early severe cases caused a lot of concern, but this has receded slightly, as more mild cases turn up.

早期的極端案例造成不少擔憂，但因輕症案例的增加，近期有稍微減緩的趨勢。

The new virus does not seem to be as deadly as SARS, which killed around 11 percent of the people it infected.

新病毒似乎不如感染致死率為 11% 的 SARS 致命 。

Researchers think that the virus originated in an unknown animal at a market in Wuhan.

研究人員認為該病毒發源自武漢市場內不明動物。

Identifying that animal could help control the current outbreak and gauge its threat going forward.

識別出這種動物可幫助控制當前疫情，並判測未來的威脅。

The virus's genetic code could offer clues to its origins and spread.

該病毒的遺傳密碼可提供關於它的起源與傳染途徑的線索。

Labs in China and Thailand have sequenced at least 19 strains from infected people, and made them publicly available.

中國與泰國的實驗室已根據感染者完成至少 19 段基因序列，並公諸於眾。

Analysis is ongoing.

分析持續進行中。

There are no known drugs that can effectively treat coronavirus infections in humans, and no vaccines are currently licensed.

近期沒有可以有效治癒新型冠狀病毒感染者的藥物，且沒有疫苗獲得核可。

But researchers are working on the problem.

但研究人員正在處理這個問題。

One possible avenue is to block the receptor the viruses use to infect humans.

一種可能的途徑是阻斷病毒用來感染人體的受體。

With more cases being reported every day, the race is on to contain the outbreak.

隨著每日越來越多病例被報導，控制疫情的這場競賽持續進行中。

And scientists are at the heart of the effort.

而科學家正全心全意投入。