Thirty of the world's leading scientific research institutions, journals and funders have pledged to share for free all data and expertise on Zika to speed up the fight against an outbreak of the viral disease spreading across the Americas, Reuters reports.

"The arguments for sharing data and the consequences of not doing so (have been) ... thrown into stark relief by the Ebola and Zika outbreaks," said a statement issued by signatories from around the world.

Specialists welcomed the initiative, saying it showed how the global health community had learnt crucial lessons from West Africa's Ebola epidemic, which killed more than 11,300 people and saw scientists scrambling to conduct research to help in the development of potential treatments and vaccines.

Zika, a viral disease carried by mosquitoes, is causing international alarm as an outbreak in Brazil has now spread through much of the Americas.

"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 combating the crisis," the signatories wrote, according to Reuters.

Much remains unknown about Zika, including whether it may cause birth defects or other neurological problems.