The Aedes Albopictus, which is among 60 types of mosquito that can carry the virus if it stings an infected person, lives in Hong Kong sparking warnings from local health officials to eliminate breeding areas.

Secretary for Food and Health Dr Ko Wing-man said: “Do not have any unnecessary water collection at home. Take anti-mosquito measures when going outdoors.”

So, as the virus is new to many, here are some answers to common questions about the new threat.

1. What are the common symptoms?

The Zika virus could cause a mild illness. Common symptoms of infection with the virus include mild headaches, maculopapular rash, fever, malaise, conjunctivitis, and joint pains, which normally last two to seven days.

2. What links Zika with microcephaly?

A group of Brazilian doctors found a link between Zika and the rising number of babies born with microcephaly in the country.

Microcephaly refers to abnormally smaller head for new born babies. It may lead to developmental delays and often comes with other health conditions, like sight and heart congenital diseases.

Health authorities found out that many Brazilian women who had babies with microcephaly had been infected with the Zika virus in the early months of their pregnancies.

3. How is Zika treated?

Usually, Zika is relatively mild and requires no specific treatment. People affected with Zika should get plenty of rest, drink fluids and treat pain and fever with common medicines. If symptoms worsen, medical care and advice should be sought immediately. Common defences against mosquitoes are recommended.

4. Is there a vaccine or cure?

The best form of prevention is protection against mosquito bites, as in 2016, no vaccine, preventative drug or specific treatment is available. But work is underway towards developing a vaccine for the Zika virus. However, scientists say it may take several years before the vaccine is rolled out.

5. How widespread is the outbreak of the Zika virus in the Americas?

The WHO said Zika cases have been reported in 23 countries and territories in the Americas in the current outbreak.

Brazil has been the nation most affected. Over 4,000 suspected cases of microcephaly have been identified in Brazil. So far, 270 of the cases have been officially confirmed to have links to the Zika virus, and further testing is underway.

6. Where did the Zika virus come from?

Recent outbreaks of the Zika virus were first reported from the Pacific in 2007 and 2013 (Yap and French Polynesia respectively), and from the Americas (Brazil and Colombia) and Africa (Cape Verde) in 2015.

7. What measures has the international community taken to prevent the spread of Zika?

In January 2016, the U.S. Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a level two travel alert for people travelling to regions and certain countries where the Zika virus transmission is ongoing. The CDC also suggested that women thinking about becoming pregnant should consult with their physicians before traveling.

Governments or health agencies of the United Kingdom, Ireland, New Zealand, Canada and the EU soon issued similar travel warnings.

In Colombia, Minister of Health and Social Protection Alejandro Gaviria Uribe proposed a prevention of pregnancy for eight months, while Ecuador, El Salvador and Jamaica have made similar proposals.

Brazil also announced plans to prevent the spread of the Zika virus during the 2016 Summer Olympic Games.

8. Should we panic?

WHO Assistant Director-General Bruce Aylward warned that though the Zika virus is currently circulating at a very high intensity in the Americas, gaps remain regarding the situation on the ground.

“With respect to China and Asia, at this moment we don’t have any official notification of the Zika virus in that area,” he said, adding he did not know what would be the required timeframe, or indeed the feasibility, of developing a vaccine.

— with Xinhua