How the Zika virus has spread

Past and present cases of local Zika transmission (confirmed and unconfirmed)

Zika spread primarily through bite of infected Aedes mosquito

Cape Verde

New Caledonia

Cook Islands

French Polynesia

Easter Island

1947: Virus first identified in rhesus monkey by scientists researching yellow fever in Uganda’s Zika Forest

1948: Virus recovered from Aedes mosquito in same forest

1960: First live case recorded inhuman patient in Nigeria

1960s-1980s: Zika detected in mosquitoes and monkeys across equatorial Africa

1969-1983: Known geographical distribution of virus expands to equatorial Asia, including India,Indonesia, Malaysia and Pakistan.As in Africa, only sporadic human cases occur

2007: Virus spreads from Africa and Asia, causing first large outbreak in humans on Pacific island of Yap

2013-14: Zika causes outbreaks in four other groups of Pacific islands

2015: Virus discovered in Brazil.Disease associated with neurological disorders and surge in microcephaly –abnormally small heads – among newborn babies. Zika spreads quickly across Latin America and Caribbean

2016: WHO declares public health emergency. Zika active in more than 40 countries and territories as of April 4, including seven Pacific Island groups and Cape Verde

Sources: WHO, CDC, wire agencies

Picture: Associated Press