Coronavirus 2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) Stability in Dairy Products

SARS-CoV-2, a member of the Coronaviridae and betacoronavirus families, has been responsible for the most devastating pandemic epidemic of the 21st century, known as Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), throughout the world since late December 2019. This virus is thought to be the third zoonotic betacoronavirus discovered in the current century. Both the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome-Related Coronavirus (MERSCoV) and SARS-CoV, both beta-CoVs, caused widespread epidemics across the world. In terms of phylogenesis, there is an 89 percent similarity between SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV. Camels and civets were reported to be intermediate hosts of MERS and SARS, respectively, but bats were thought to be the source of both. Animals that contain the virus and eventually transmit it to humans are referred to be intermediate hosts. CoVs, in general, required intermediate hosts before infecting humans.

Author(s): Susan Bones*

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