It hasn't been confirmed, but there appears to be a link between the Zika virus and children born with microcephaly, an abnormally small head and underdeveloped brain. The Asian tiger mosquito, which ranged as far north as NY and Chicago in the summer, the Times reported, is also known to transmit the virus.

Photo of mosquito, which can carry the Zika virus. The Indiana Department of Health says they are prepared for the day Zika virus makes its way into the state.

"Fever, rash, muscle ache, joint pains, maybe conjunctivitis, red eye, pink eye, and those are usually milder symptoms, usually get over those in a week or two", Weems says.

It said the leaders agreed on the importance of working together to spearhead research and speed development of vaccines and other technologies to control the mosquito-borne virus.

He said there have been a few reports suggesting the possibility that Zika can be transmitted through blood transfusions or sex.

"We provide an ongoing service to the region's public health professionals whereby we maintain a map of epidemic and emerging disease alerts for regional health security purposes", the acting deputy director of SPC's Public Health Division, Dr Salanieta Saketa, said in a statement. Symptoms typically begin 2 to 7 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito.

The union health ministry said on Friday it is making sure that India is well prepared against cases of Zika virus that has already caused much damage in Brazil and elsewhere in the Americas. Current evidence suggests that the Zika virus is likely to persist and spread in the Americas and the South Pacific.

According to the World Health Organization the Zika virus is "spreading explosively" and that the "level of concern is high". "If you have to go, be super strict about preventing exposure".

It's also unknown whether the risk of microcephaly is present throughout pregnancy or whether it is limited to say, the first trimester, when birth defect-causing illnesses often strike.

The Zika virus was discovered in Africa in 1947. There has been one case reportedly spread through sexual contact. "The only thing we can do is fight the mosquito", she told reporters during a visit to a command center for the Zika crisis.