Zika virus is a 'global emergency', declares WHO

The World Health Organization has declared the Zika virus a global public health emergency that requires an urgent and united response.

The WHO alert put the mosquito-borne virus in the same category of international concern as Ebola, which should mean clinical research and international aid could be fast-tracked to tackle the infection.

A committee of independent experts to the United Nations agency made the declaration following criticism of a slow response.

Zika's spread in South America has been linked to thousands of babies being born with birth defects that include underdeveloped brains.

Although symptoms are relatively mild, Zika has been linked to a surge in cases of microcephaly, a condition in which a baby is born with an abnormally small head and brain, as well as the Guillain-Barré neurological syndrome.

Brazil warned of the virus's spread in October after numerous microcephaly cases appeared in the north-east.

Some have claimed the acceleration in the spread of the virus is linked to the release in 2012 of genetically modified mosquitoes to combat the spread of dengue fever.

Reports on Friday suggested a Zika vaccine could be ready by the end of the year.

In an interview with Reuters, scientist Gary Kobinger who is working on the vaccine, said it could be ready for human testing in August and rolled out in October or November during a public health emergency.