DISINFO: The coronavirus is man-made and tailored to Chinese DNA

Conspiracy theory. See related disinformation cases about the coronavirus. Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses found in both animals and humans. Some infect people and are known to cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). A novel coronavirus (CoV) is a new strain of coronavirus that has not been previously identified in humans, before the outbreak was reported in Wuhan, China in December 2019. The virus migrated from animals to humans, and while the scientists continue to track its origins there is no evidence to suggest it has been made artificially. See previous pro-Kremlin disinformation cases, alleging that cancer, syphilis and Spanish flu are US biological weapons; and that the Rockefeller foundation owns the patent for Zika virus.