Timeline: Zika's origin and global spread

Timeline: Zika's origin and global spread
Reuters
April 26, 2016

April 25 (Reuters) - - The following timeline charts the origin and
spread of the Zika virus from its discovery 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-80s: Zika detected in mosquitoes and monkeys across equatorial Africa

1969–83: 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

2013–14: 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 characterized by skin rash in
northeastern states

July 17: Brazil reports detection of neurological disorders in newborns
associated with history of infection

Oct. 5: Cape Verde has cases of illness with skin rash

Oct. 22: Colombia confirms cases of Zika

Oct. 30: Brazil reports increase in microcephaly, abnormally small
heads, among newborns

Nov. 11: Brazil declares public health emergency

November 2015-January 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: World Health Organization (WHO) declares public health emergency
of international concern

Feb. 2: First case of Zika transmission in United States; local health
officials say likely contracted through sex, not mosquito bite

Feb. 5: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says virus being
actively transmitted in 30 countries, mostly in the Americas

Feb. 8: U.S. President Barack Obama requests $1.8 billion to fight Zika

Feb. 12: 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. 17: Brazil investigating potential link between Zika and 4,443
suspected cases of microcephaly. Of those, 508 confirmed as microcephaly
and most of those cases are linked to the virus. WHO seeks $56 million
to fight Zika.

Feb. 18: CDC adds Aruba and Bonaire to countries and territories with
active outbreaks, bringing total to 32.

Feb. 23: CDC investigating 14 cases of possible sexual transmission of
Zika. CDC also adds Trinidad and Tobago and Marshall Islands to
countries and territories with active outbreaks, bringing total to 34.

Feb. 25: Brazil says confirmed microcephaly cases number more than 580
and considers most of them to be related to Zika infections in the
mothers. Brazil is investigating an additional 4,100 suspected cases of
microcephaly.

Feb. 27: France detects first sexually transmitted case of Zika.

Feb. 29: CDC adds St. Maarten, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to
countries and territories with active outbreaks, bringing total to 36.

March 1: Brazil says confirmed microcephaly cases rose to 641 and
considers most of them to be related to Zika infections in the mothers.
Brazil is investigating an additional 4,222 suspected cases of microcephaly.

March 8: WHO advises pregnant women to avoid areas with Zika outbreak
and said sexual transmission of the virus is "relatively common."

March 9: CDC adds New Caledonia to countries and territories with active
outbreaks, bringing total to 37.

March 15: Cuba reports first case of Zika contracted in the country.

March 16: Cape Verde identifies first case of microcephaly.

March 18: CDC says during Jan. 1, 2015 to Feb. 26, 2016, 116 residents
of the United States had evidence of recent zika virus infection based
on laboratory testing.

Brazil says confirmed microcephaly cases rose to 863 and considers most
of them to be related to Zika infections in the mothers. Brazil is
investigating an additional 4,268 suspected cases of microcephaly.

March 19: CDC adds Cuba to countries and territories with active
outbreaks, bringing total to 38.

March 21: South Korea confirms first case of Zika.

March 22: CDC adds Dominica to countries and territories with active
outbreaks, bringing total to 39. Bangladesh confirms first case of Zika
virus.

Brazil says confirmed microcephaly cases rose to 907 and considers most
of them to be related to Zika infections in the mothers. Brazil is
investigating an additional 4,293 suspected cases of microcephaly.

March 29: Brazil says confirmed microcephaly cases rose to 944 and
considers most of them to be related to Zika infections in the mothers.
Brazil said the number of suspected cases of microcephaly dropped
slightly to 4,291.

March 31: According to the World Health Organization, there is a strong
scientific consensus that Zika can cause the birth defect microcephaly
as well as Guillain-Barre syndrome, a rare neurological disorder that
can result in paralysis, though conclusive proof may take months or years.

April 1: CDC adds Kosrae, Federated States of Micronesia to countries
and territories with active outbreaks, bringing total to 40.

April 4: CDC adds Fiji to countries and territories with active
outbreaks, bringing total to 41.

April 5: Vietnam reports first Zika infections.

April 6: Brazil says confirmed microcephaly cases rose to 1,046 and
considers most of them to be related to Zika infections in the mothers.
The number of suspected cases of microcephaly dropped to 4,046.

April 7: St. Lucia confirms first two cases of Zika, contracted locally.

April 12: Brazil says confirmed microcephaly cases rose to 1,113 and
considers most of them to be related to Zika infections in the mothers.
The number of suspected cases of microcephaly dropped to 3,836. It was
the second week in a row that the overall total figure fell.

April 13: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention concluded
that infection with the Zika virus in pregnant women is a cause of the
birth defect microcephaly and other severe brain abnormalities in
babies. The CDC said now that the causal relationship has been
established, several important questions must still be answered with
studies that could take years.

CDC adds St. Lucia to countries and territories with active outbreaks,
bringing total to 42.

April 18: Peru reports first case of sexually transmitted Zika virus.

CDC adds Belize to countries and territories with active outbreaks,
bringing total to 43.

April 25: Canada confirms first sexually transmitted Zika case.

SOURCES: World Health Organization, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, Reuters

(Reporting by Ben Hirschler; Editing by the Americas Desk)
((ben.hirschler@thomsonreuters.com; +44-20-7542-5082; Reuters Messaging:
ben.hirschler.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))

Source: Timeline: Zika's origin and global spread -
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