A deadly hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship has revived bitter memories of when COVID-19 first emerged, but health experts have emphasized that the two viruses are very different, and have sought to assuage fears of another pandemic. Here is what you need to know.

After the first cases of COVID-19 in late 2019, it was referred to as the ¡°novel coronavirus¡± because it was a brand new pathogen.

The virus rapidly engulfed the world, sending countries into punishing lockdowns and crippling the global economy.