HCoV S

Human coronaviruses (HCoV) were first identified in the 1960s from the naval cavities of patients with the common cold. Approximatley 30% of common colds are caused by two human coronaviruses - OC43 and 229E. Human coronaviruses are said to account for between 10% and 30% of all common colds. Incidence of infection among humans is highest during the winter months as well as early spring. It is not uncommon for somebody to become ill with a coronavirus cold, and then to catch it again about four months later. Experts say this is because coronavirus antibodies do not last for very long - also, the antibodies for one coronavirus strain may be useless against other strains.