epa08252656 An undated handout picture made available by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) shows a transmission electron microscope image of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, isolated from a patient in the USA, with virus particles (round gold objects) seen emerging from the surface of cells cultured in the lab (issued 27 February 2020). The spikes on the outer edge of the virus particles give coronaviruses their name, crown-like. The novel coronavirus is on the verge of spreading across the world as more cases are emerging outside China with outbreaks in South Korea, Italy and Iran. EPA/NIAID- RML/NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH HANDOUT HANDOUT EDITORIAL USE ONLY/NO SALES