A previously unidentified human coronavirus causing respiratory disease in humans was discovered in 2003. The newly discovered virus was isolated from an 8-month old boy suffering from pneumonia, sequenced and identified as a new member of the human coronaviruses designated HCoV/NL63.

HCoV-NL63 has a world-wide distribution and can cause severe lower respiratory tract diseases in children and the elderly, particularly in hospital settings. Symptoms of the disease associated with HCoV/NL63 infections include fever, cough, bronchitis or bronchiolitis and pneumonia.

References:

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2004 Apr 20;101(16):6212-6 : A previously undescribed coronavirus associated with respiratory disease in humans.