View source for Section 1: Introduction (from DOI: 10.1084/jem.20200653)

{{infobox_publicationsection}}
<b>From publication:</b> "COVID-19 and emerging viral infections: The case for interferon lambda" published as J. Exp. Med.; 2020 05 04 ; 217 (5) <br> https://doi.org/10.1080/22221751.2020.1735265<br><br><h3><u>Section 1: Introduction</h3></u><p>Infection with SARS-CoV-2 has emerged as a major global threat. First reported in China at the end of 2019, this outbreak rapidly spread throughout the globe and was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization on March 11, 2020. In the absence of approved therapies or vaccines to prevent or treat this infection, its rapid dissemination has overwhelmed public healthcare systems worldwide, causing severe economic and social distress. The previous high mortality outbreaks caused by SARS-CoV-1 in 2003 and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS)-CoV in 2012 illustrate that the emergence of novel viruses is not an isolated occurrence. However, the former outbreaks differed substantively from COVID-19, which can be transmitted by asymptomatic individuals. Currently, the primary tool to mitigate SARS-CoV-2 is social distancing, and an effective antiviral pharmacologic agent would be an important clinical and public health tool.</p>