SARS-CoV, or Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus, is a virus that emerged in 2002 and is responsible for the SARS outbreak. It primarily spreads through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The virus can cause severe respiratory illness, leading to symptoms such as fever, cough, and difficulty breathing. SARS-CoV is part of the larger family of coronaviruses, which also includes other viruses like MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2, the latter being responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic. The outbreak of SARS was contained by public health measures, but it highlighted the potential for coronaviruses to cause significant health crises.