A new global map by eLife journal shows over two billion people live in parts of the world where the Zika virus can spread.

‘Globally, we predict that over 2.17 billion people live in areas that are environmentally suitable for Zika virus transmission,’ read the journal.

The Zika virus, which is spread by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, triggered a global health emergency in 2016.

Last week the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed that the virus causes severe birth defects, reports BBC.

The latest research showed mapping Zika was more complex than simply defining where the mosquito can survive.

By learning where Zika could thrive the researchers could then predict where else may be affected. The researchers confirmed that large areas of South America, the focus of the current outbreak, are susceptible.

In total, 2.2 billion people live in areas defined as being ‘at risk’, reports BBC.

The infection is suspected of leading to thousands of babies being born with underdeveloped brains.