Experts say new SARS-like virus, which has only been found in Europe and the Middle East and has killed five people so far, could appear in the United States.

The “novel coronavirus” or NCoV, was identified just last September and its symptoms include severe respiratory illness, fever, coughing, and breathing difficulties.

NCoV could potentially be treated with drugs that boost the immune system.

A new study finds the virus is well adapted to infecting the human respiratory tract and is also susceptible to treatment with interferons, medicines that boost the immune system and are used successfully to treat other viral diseases like Hepatitis C.