HealthTap Online Primary Care Doctors Accepting New Patients
Book a video visit
HealthTap
Telehealth
A member asked:

Why is an outbreak of this new coronavirus happening now? wouldn't it have been around for a while? do new diseases just suddenly appear?

A doctor has provided 1 answer
Dr. Heidi Fowler answered

Specializes in Psychiatry

Coronavirus: As stated earlier- this is likely a virus carried normally by an animal (in this case the Chinese horseshoe bat). The infection ended up being spread to humans (likely through a wet market ins Wuhan China).The infection has now jumped to another species.

Dr Singh agreed

Answered 5/28/2020

73 views

Thank

Related Questions

A member asked:

What if I'm traveling during the novel coronavirus/Covid-19 outbreak?

A doctor has provided 1 answer

A member asked:

How to keep my grandparents safe during the novel coronavirus outbreak?

A doctor has provided 1 answer

A member asked:

How long do you estimate that social distancing due to the coronavirus outbreak will last?

2 doctors weighed in across 2 answers

A member asked:

How can we block the Second Wave coronavirus outbreak in our community? What should I do to protect my home and family?

A doctor has provided 1 answer

A member asked:

Should we be careful about the coronavirus outbreak for older age groups? At which older age cutoff should people be avoiding public gatherings?

2 doctors weighed in across 2 answers

Sponsored Content
HealthTap Medical Group does not endorse products or services. Sponsored content revenues support our mission to make health information free and accessible to all.Learn more

People also searched for:

Five weeks ago, president was calling our coronavirus outbreak a hoax, but now over 2000 Americans died Friday. Who's info can we rely on to be true?
I've seen hospitals use HEPA air filters before this new coronavirus outbreak. Can HEPA filters pull viruses out of the air such as in a work office?
We bought some toys online from China for Christmas, just before the Wuhan coronavirus outbreak. Would coronavirus survive on the toys?
What if I can't get medical supplies during the novel coronavirus outbreak? What are we supposed to do?
How to keep children safe during the novel coronavirus outbreak?

Telemedicine

Primary Care
Manage Your Conditions
Women's Health
Children's Health
Men's Health
Senior Health
Wellness, Prevention & Lifestyle
Sexual Health
Mental & Behavioral Health
Travel Medicine
Urgent Care
Ask your question
Didn't find what you're looking for?

90,000 U.S. doctors in 147 specialties are here to answer your questions or offer you advice, prescriptions, and more.

Ask your question

More of what we treat

Allergies
Antibiotics
Asthma
High Blood Pressure
Prescriptions
Type 2 Diabetes
Content on HealthTap (including answers) should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and interactions on HealthTap do not create a doctor-patient relationship. Never disregard or delay professional medical advice in person because of anything on HealthTap. Call your doctor or 911 if you think you may have a medical emergency.
HealthTap
HIPAA logo
HIPAASecure
Soc 2 Type 2 logo
SOC 2 Type 2Certified
JCAHO Accredited
JCAHOAccredited
Member App

Download HealthTap

Video visit and message your doctor

Member App QR Code
Play Store Member LinkApp Store Member Link

Questions?

+1 (888) 828-0841support@healthtap.com
LinkedInTwitter
HomeTermsPrivacyCookiesDMCAHealth TopicsDoctors DirectoryDoctor Q&A by Specialty
Copyright 2026 HealthTap, Inc.