Coronavirus is a type of virus that can cause respiratory illnesses, ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases like Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). The most recent strain of coronavirus, known as COVID-19, was first identified in Wuhan, China in late 2019 and has since spread globally, leading to a pandemic declared by the World Health Organization. Research on coronavirus includes studying its transmission, symptoms, treatments, and developing vaccines to prevent its spread.