TIMELINE: Zika's origin and global spread
(Reuters) - This timeline charts the origin and spread of the Zika virus from its discovery in Uganda nearly 70 years ago: 1947 - Scientists researching yellow fever in Uganda's Zika Forest identify the virus in a rhesus monkey 1948 - Virus recovered from Aedes africanus mosquito in Zika Forest 1952 - First human cases detected in Uganda and Tanzania 1954 - Virus found in Nigeria 1960s-1980s - Zika detected in mosquitoes and monkeys across equatorial Africa 1969–1983 - Zika found in equatorial Asia, including India, Indonesia, Malaysia and Pakistan 2007 - Zika spreads from Africa and Asia, first large outbreak on Pacific island of Yap 2012 - Researchers identify two distinct lineages of the virus, African and Asian 2013–2014 - Zika outbreaks in French Polynesia, Easter Island, the Cook Islands and New Caledonia. Retrospective analysis shows possible link to birth defects and severe neurological complications in babies in French Polynesia March 2, 2015 - Brazil reports illness characterised by skin rash in northeastern states July 17, 2015 - Brazil reports detection of neurological disorders in newborns associated with history of infection Oct 5, 2015 - Cape Verde has cases of illness with skin rash Oct 22, 2015 - Colombia confirms cases of Zika Oct 30, 2015 - Brazil reports increase in microcephaly, abnormally small heads, among newborns Nov 11, 2015 - Brazil declares public health emergency Nov 2015-Jan 2016 - Cases reported in Suriname, Panama, El Salvador, Mexico, Guatemala, Paraguay, Venezuela, French Guiana, Martinique, Puerto Rico, Guyana, Ecuador, Barbados, Bolivia, Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, Curacao, Jamaica Feb 1, 2016 - World Health Organization declares a public health emergency of international concern Feb 2, 2016 - First case of Zika transmission in United States; local health officials say likely contracted through sex, not mosquito bite. Feb 5, 2016- Outbreaks confirmed in 33 countries in the Americas Feb 12, 2016 - World Health Organization says suspected link between Zika and the neurological disorders microcephaly and Guillain-Barre syndrome could be confirmed in weeks. Feb 12, 2016 - Brazil investigating potential link between Zika infections and 4,314 suspected cases of microcephaly. Of those, 462 confirmed as microcephaly and 41 determined to be linked to virus. Feb 12, 2016 - World Health Organization raises countries with Zika outbreaks to 40, up from 33. Feb 17, 2016 - Brazil investigating potential link between Zika infections and 4,443 suspected cases of microcephaly. Of those, 508 confirmed as microcephaly and most of those cases are linked to the virus. Feb 17, 2016 - WHO seeks $56 million to fight Zika. Source: World Health Organization, Reuters (Reporting by Ben Hirschler; Editing by Toni Reinhold, Lisa Shumaker and Bernard Orr)
