AP Spotlight INFECTIOUS DISEASES 5 things we know and still don't know about COVID, 5 years after it appeared LAURAN NEERGAARD, LAURA UNGAR and MIKE STOBBE Associated Press Jan 3, 2025 Jan 3, 2025 Updated Jul 8, 2025 0 Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Five years ago, a cluster of people in Wuhan, China, fell sick with a virus never before seen in the world.kAm%96 86C> 5:5?VE 92G6 2 ?2>6[ ?@C 5:5 E96 :==?6DD :E H@F=5 42FD6] xE H@F?5 FA D6EE:?8 @77 2 A2?56>:4 E92E 6IA@D65 566A :?6BF:E:6D :? E96 8=@32= 962=E9 DJDE6> 2?5 C6D92A65 AF3=:4 @A:?:@? 23@FE 9@H E@ 4@?EC@= 5625=J 6>6C8:?8 G:CFD6D]k^AmkAm%96 G:CFD :D DE:== H:E9 FD[ E9@F89 9F>2?:EJ 92D 3F:=E FA :>>F?:EJ E9C@F89 G244:?2E:@?D 2?5 :?764E:@?D] xEVD =6DD 5625=J E92? :E H2D :? E96 A2?56>:4VD 62C=J 52JD 2?5 :E ?@ =@?86C E@AD E96 =:DE @7 =625:?8 42FD6D @7 562E9] qFE E96 G:CFD :D 6G@=G:?8[ >62?:?8 D4:6?E:DED >FDE EC24< :E 4=@D6=J]k^Am k9am(96C6 5:5 E96 $p#$\r@'\a G:CFD 4@>6 7C@>nk^9am People are also reading… A timeline of assassination attempts and threats against Trump Former Cyclone Addy Brown commits to reigning NCAA Champs Pope Leo signals shift away from Catholic Church's focus on sex 8 children killed at home in Louisiana domestic violence, police say Daughter of 10-year MLB vet, Brianna Johnson a 'gem' who delivers for Hawkeyes again and again Watch: New Iowa running backs coach explains why he rejoined Hawkeyes Grinnell's Will Slagle recommits to Iowa State, recruiting win for Jimmy Rogers What Jay Norvell said makes Iowa special and why he wanted to be a Hawkeye again They’re in remission, but their medical bills aren’t: Cancer survivors navigate soaring costs Inside Ukraine's drive to defeat the dreaded Shahed drone Trump administration rejects women picked for soybean board, appoints men instead Winners (Jermod McCoy) and losers (Diego Pavia) of 2026 NFL Draft Day 3 America barely uses OPEC oil. Why are gas prices so high? New TrumpIRA plan aims to reach workers without 401(k)s US court blocks mail-order access to abortion drug, for now kAm(6 5@?VE <?@H] $4:6?E:DED E9:?< E96 >@DE =:<6=J D46?2C:@ :D E92E :E 4:C4F=2E65 :? 32ED[ =:<6 >2?J 4@C@?2G:CFD6D] %96J E9:?< :E E96? :?764E65 2?@E96C DA64:6D[ AC@323=J C24@@? 5@8D[ 4:G6E 42ED @C 32>3@@ C2ED[ H9:49 :? EFC? :?764E65 9F>2?D 92?5=:?8 @C 3FE496C:?8 E9@D6 2?:>2=D 2E 2 >2C<6E :? (F92?[ H96C6 E96 7:CDE 9F>2? 42D6D 2AA62C65 :? =2E6 }@G6>36C a_`h]k^AmkAm%92EVD 2 <?@H? A2E9H2J 7@C 5:D62D6 EC2?D>:DD:@? 2?5 =:<6=J EC:886C65 E96 7:CDE 6A:56>:4 @7 2 D:>:=2C G:CFD[ <?@H? 2D $p#$] qFE E9:D E96@CJ 92D ?@E 366? AC@G6? 7@C E96 G:CFD E92E 42FD6D r~'xs\`h] (F92? :D 9@>6 E@ D6G6C2= C6D62C49 =23D :?G@=G65 :? 4@==64E:?8 2?5 DEF5J:?8 4@C@?2G:CFD6D[ 7F6=:?8 5632E6 @G6C H96E96C E96 G:CFD :?DE625 >2J 92G6 =62<65 7C@> @?6]k^Am kAmxEVD 2 5:77:4F=E D4:6?E:7:4 AFKK=6 E@ 4C24< :? E96 36DE @7 4:C4F>DE2?46D] %96 677@CE 92D 366? >256 6G6? >@C6 492==6?8:?8 3J A@=:E:42= D?:A:?8 2C@F?5 E96 G:CFDV @C:8:?D 2?5 3J H92E :?E6C?2E:@?2= C6D62C496CD D2J 2C6 >@G6D 3J r9:?2 E@ H:E99@=5 6G:56?46 E92E 4@F=5 96=A]k^AmkAm%96 ECF6 @C:8:? @7 E96 A2?56>:4 >2J ?@E 36 <?@H? 7@C >2?J J62CD — :7 6G6C]k^Amk9amw@H >2?J A6@A=6 92G6 5:65 7C@> r~'xs\`hnk^9amkAm!C@323=J >@C6 E92? a_ >:==:@?] %96 (@C=5 w62=E9 ~C82?:K2E:@? 92D D2:5 >6>36C 4@F?EC:6D C6A@CE65 >@C6 E92? f >:==:@? 562E9D 7C@> r~'xs\`h 3FE E96 ECF6 562E9 E@== :D 6DE:>2E65 E@ 36 2E =62DE E9C66 E:>6D 9:896C]k^Am kAmx? E96 &]$][ 2? 2G6C286 @7 23@FE h__ A6@A=6 2 H66< 92G6 5:65 @7 r~'xs\`h @G6C E96 A2DE J62C[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 &]$] r6?E6CD 7@C s:D62D6 r@?EC@= 2?5 !C6G6?E:@?]k^AmkAm%96 4@C@?2G:CFD 4@?E:?F6D E@ 27764E @=56C 25F=ED E96 >@DE] {2DE H:?E6C :? E96 &]$][ A6@A=6 286 fd 2?5 @=56C 244@F?E65 7@C 23@FE 92=7 E96 ?2E:@?VD r~'xs\`h 9@DA:E2=:K2E:@?D 2?5 :?\9@DA:E2= 562E9D[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 rsr]k^AmkAmQ(6 42??@E E2=< 23@FE r~'xs :? E96 A2DE[ D:?46 :EVD DE:== H:E9 FD[Q (w~ 5:C64E@C %65C@D p592?@> v963C6J6DFD D2:5]k^Am k9am(92E G244:?6D H6C6 >256 2G2:=23=6nk^9am kAm$4:6?E:DED 2?5 G244:?6\>2<6CD 3C@<6 DA665 C64@C5D 56G6=@A:?8 r~'xs\`h G244:?6D E92E 92G6 D2G65 E6?D @7 >:==:@?D @7 =:G6D H@C=5H:56 — 2?5 H6C6 E96 4C:E:42= DE6A E@ 86EE:?8 =:76 324< E@ ?@C>2=]k^AmkAm{6DD E92? 2 J62C 27E6C r9:?2 :56?E:7:65 E96 G:CFD[ 962=E9 2FE9@C:E:6D :? E96 &]$] 2?5 qC:E2:? 4=62C65 G244:?6D >256 3J !7:K6C 2?5 |@56C?2] *62CD @7 62C=:6C C6D62C49 — :?4=F5:?8 }@36=\H:??:?8 5:D4@G6C:6D E92E H6C6 <6J E@ >2<:?8 E96 ?6H E649?@=@8J H@C< — 82G6 2 9625 DE2CE 7@C D@\42==65 >#}p G244:?6D]k^Am kAm%@52J[ E96C6VD 2=D@ 2 >@C6 EC25:E:@?2= G244:?6 >256 3J }@G2G2I[ 2?5 D@>6 4@F?EC:6D 92G6 EC:65 255:E:@?2= @AE:@?D] #@==@FE E@ A@@C6C 4@F?EC:6D H2D D=@H[ 3FE E96 (w~ 6DE:>2E6D >@C6 E92? `b 3:==:@? 5@D6D @7 r~'xs\`h G244:?6D 92G6 366? 25>:?:DE6C65 8=@32==J D:?46 a_a`]k^Am Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | RSS Feed | Omny Studio | All Of Our Podcasts kAm%96 G244:?6D 2C6?VE A6C764E] %96J 5@ 2 8@@5 ;@3 @7 AC6G6?E:?8 D6G6C6 5:D62D6[ 9@DA:E2=:K2E:@? 2?5 562E9[ 2?5 92G6 AC@G6? G6CJ D276[ H:E9 @?=J C2C6 D6C:@FD D:56 67764ED] qFE AC@E64E:@? 282:?DE >:=56C :?764E:@? 368:?D E@ H2?6 27E6C 2 76H >@?E9D]k^AmkAm{:<6 7=F G244:?6D[ r~'xs\`h D9@ED >FDE 36 FA52E65 C68F=2C=J E@ >2E49 E96 6G6C\6G@=G:?8 G:CFD — 4@?EC:3FE:?8 E@ AF3=:4 7CFDEC2E:@? 2E E96 ?665 7@C C6A62E65 G244:?2E:@?D] t77@CED E@ 56G6=@A ?6IE\86?6C2E:@? G244:?6D 2C6 F?56CH2J[ DF49 2D ?2D2= G244:?6D E92E C6D62C496CD 9@A6 >:89E 5@ 2 36EE6C ;@3 @7 3=@4<:?8 :?764E:@?]k^Am k9am(9:49 G2C:2?E :D 5@>:?2E:?8 ?@Hnk^9am kAmv6?6E:4 492?86D 42==65 >FE2E:@?D 92AA6? 2D G:CFD6D >2<6 4@A:6D @7 E96>D6=G6D] p?5 E9:D G:CFD 92D AC@G6? E@ 36 ?@ 5:776C6?E]k^Am kAm$4:6?E:DED ?2>65 E96D6 G2C:2?ED 27E6C vC66< =6EE6CDi 2=A92[ 36E2[ 82>>2[ 56=E2 2?5 @>:4C@?] s6=E2[ H9:49 3642>6 5@>:?2?E :? E96 &]$] :? yF?6 a_a`[ C2:D65 2 =@E @7 4@?46C?D 3642FD6 :E H2D EH:46 2D =:<6=J E@ =625 E@ 9@DA:E2=:K2E:@? 2D E96 7:CDE G6CD:@? @7 E96 G:CFD]k^Am kAm%96? :? =2E6 }@G6>36C a_a`[ 2 ?6H G2C:2?E 42>6 @? E96 D46?6i @>:4C@?]k^AmkAmQxE DAC625 G6CJ C2A:5=J[Q 5@>:?2E:?8 H:E9:? H66<D[ D2:5 sC] (6D=6J {@?8[ 2 A2E9@=@8:DE 2E w@FDE@? |6E9@5:DE :? %6I2D] QxE 5C@G6 2 9F86 DA:<6 :? 42D6D 4@>A2C65 E@ 2?JE9:?8 H6 925 D66? AC6G:@FD=J]Qk^AmkAmqFE @? 2G6C286[ E96 (w~ D2:5[ :E 42FD65 =6DD D6G6C6 5:D62D6 E92? 56=E2] $4:6?E:DED 36=:6G6 E92E >2J 36 A2CE=J 3642FD6 :>>F?:EJ 925 366? 3F:=5:?8 5F6 E@ G244:?2E:@? 2?5 :?764E:@?D]k^Am kAmQtG6C D:?46 E96?[ H6 ;FDE D@CE @7 <66A D66:?8 E96D6 5:776C6?E DF3G2C:2?ED @7 @>:4C@? 244F>F=2E:?8 >@C6 5:776C6?E >FE2E:@?D[Q {@?8 D2:5] Q#:89E ?@H[ 6G6CJE9:?8 D66>D E@ =@4<65 @? E9:D @>:4C@? 3C2?49 @7 E96 EC66]Qk^AmkAm%96 @>:4C@? C6=2E:G6 ?@H 5@>:?2?E :? E96 &]$] :D 42==65 )tr[ H9:49 244@F?E65 7@C cdT @7 G2C:2?ED 4:C4F=2E:?8 ?2E:@?2==J :? E96 EH@\H66< A6C:@5 6?5:?8 s64] a`[ E96 rsr D2:5] tI:DE:?8 r~'xs\`h >65:42E:@?D 2?5 E96 =2E6DE G244:?6 3@@DE6C D9@F=5 36 67764E:G6 282:?DE :E[ {@?8 D2:5[ D:?46 Q:EVD C62==J D@CE @7 2 C6>:I:?8 @7 G2C:2?ED 2=C625J 4:C4F=2E:?8]Qk^Am k9am(92E 5@ H6 <?@H 23@FE =@?8 r~'xsnk^9amkAm|:==:@?D @7 A6@A=6 C6>2:? :? =:>3@ H:E9 2 D@>6E:>6D 5:D23=:?8[ @7E6? :?G:D:3=6[ =6824J @7 E96 A2?56>:4 42==65 =@?8 r~'xs]k^Am kAmxE 42? E2<6 D6G6C2= H66<D E@ 3@F?46 324< 27E6C 2 3@FE @7 r~'xs\`h[ 3FE D@>6 A6@A=6 56G6=@A >@C6 A6CD:DE6?E AC@3=6>D] %96 DJ>AE@>D E92E =2DE 2E =62DE E9C66 >@?E9D[ D@>6E:>6D 7@C J62CD[ :?4=F56 72E:8F6[ 4@8?:E:G6 EC@F3=6 <?@H? 2D Q3C2:? 7@8[Q A2:? 2?5 42C5:@G2D4F=2C AC@3=6>D[ 2>@?8 @E96CD]k^Am kAms@4E@CD 5@?VE <?@H H9J @?=J D@>6 A6@A=6 86E =@?8 r~'xs] xE 42? 92AA6? 6G6? 27E6C 2 >:=5 42D6 2?5 2E 2?J 286[ 2=E9@F89 C2E6D 92G6 564=:?65 D:?46 E96 A2?56>:4VD 62C=J J62CD] $EF5:6D D9@H G244:?2E:@? 42? =@H6C E96 C:D<]k^AmkAmxE 2=D@ :D?VE 4=62C H92E 42FD6D =@?8 r~'xs[ H9:49 4@>A=:42E6D E96 D62C49 7@C EC62E>6?ED] ~?6 :>A@CE2?E 4=F6i x?4C62D:?8=J C6D62C496CD 2C6 5:D4@G6C:?8 E92E C6>?2?ED @7 E96 4@C@?2G:CFD 42? A6CD:DE :? D@>6 A2E:6?EDV 3@5:6D =@?8 27E6C E96:C :?:E:2= :?764E:@?[ 2=E9@F89 E92E 42?VE 6IA=2:? 2== 42D6D]k^Am News Mayo Clinic Minute: How to reduce your risk of respiratory infections Mayo Clinic News Network News Junk food and drug use cut into life expectancy gains for some states Tim Henderson, Stateline.org News What Americans think of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his health stances AMANDA SEITZ and LINLEY SANDERS Associated Press 0 Comments Related to this story Most Popular A timeline of assassination attempts and threats against Trump Here is a look at the most significant confirmed assassination attempts and major security scares involving Trump. 8 children killed at home in Louisiana domestic violence, police say Authorities in Louisiana say a gunman killed eight children in domestic-related shootings at different two homes in the city of Shreveport ear… Inside Ukraine's drive to defeat the dreaded Shahed drone Ukraine aims to intercept 95% of Russia's long-range drones, a campaign that could be vital to its ability to survive another year of war. Trump administration rejects women picked for soybean board, appoints men instead Normally, soy farmers pick their representatives, and the USDA signs off. This time, the USDA rejected at least five farmers, including four women. US court blocks mail-order access to abortion drug, for now The move significantly curtails access to mifepristone nationwide, particularly in states that ban abortion. Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | Omny Studio | All Of Our Podcasts Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | Omny Studio Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | Omny Studio Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | Omny Studio Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | Omny Studio Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | Omny Studio Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | Omny Studio Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | RSS Feed | Omny Studio Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | RSS Feed | Omny Studio Recommended for you Watch Now: Related Video Video released of armed man storming White House correspondents’ dinner Trump Lashes Out At Merz, Says US Considering Troop Cuts In Germany Trump Lashes Out At Merz, Says US Considering Troop Cuts In Germany Supreme Court Voting Rights Ruling & What It Could Mean For Midterms Supreme Court Voting Rights Ruling & What It Could Mean For Midterms Putin, in call with Trump, put forward ideas on Iran, Kremlin says Putin, in call with Trump, put forward ideas on Iran, Kremlin says
News Junk food and drug use cut into life expectancy gains for some states Tim Henderson, Stateline.org
News What Americans think of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his health stances AMANDA SEITZ and LINLEY SANDERS Associated Press
A timeline of assassination attempts and threats against Trump Here is a look at the most significant confirmed assassination attempts and major security scares involving Trump.
8 children killed at home in Louisiana domestic violence, police say Authorities in Louisiana say a gunman killed eight children in domestic-related shootings at different two homes in the city of Shreveport ear…
Inside Ukraine's drive to defeat the dreaded Shahed drone Ukraine aims to intercept 95% of Russia's long-range drones, a campaign that could be vital to its ability to survive another year of war.
Trump administration rejects women picked for soybean board, appoints men instead Normally, soy farmers pick their representatives, and the USDA signs off. This time, the USDA rejected at least five farmers, including four women.
US court blocks mail-order access to abortion drug, for now The move significantly curtails access to mifepristone nationwide, particularly in states that ban abortion.
