LONDON, Jumada I 1, 1437, Feb 10, 2016, SPA -- Thirty of the world's leading scientific research institutions, journals and funders pledged on Wednesday to share for free all data and expertise on the Zika virus as soon as they have it, Reuters reported. "The arguments for sharing data and the consequences of not doing so (have been) ... thrown into stark relief by the Ebola and Zika outbreaks," the agreement by an unprecedented number of signatories in the Americas, Japan, Europe and elsewhere said. "In the context of a public health emergency of international concern, there is an imperative on all parties to make any information available that might have value in combatting the crisis," the signatories wrote. Zika, a viral disease carried by mosquitoes, is causing international alarm as an outbreak in Brazil has now spread through much of the Americas. Much remains unknown about the virus, including whether it may cause birth defects or other neurological problems. -- SPA 21:59 LOCAL TIME 18:59 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/w