Google last week announced it would contribute US$1 million to the UN Children’s Fund to support the global fight against the mosquito-borne Zika virus.

A team of Google engineers has volunteered to work with UNICEF to analyze data in an effort to figure out the viral infection’s path. It also will match employee donations with the goal of giving an extra $500,000 to UNICEF and the Pan American Health Organization.

The company took the actions following recent Zika virus outbreaks that caused a 3,000 percent increase in global search interest since November. Last month, the World Health Organization declared a public health emergency.

The possible correlation with Zika, microcephaly and other birth defects is alarming, Google said. Four out of five people with the virus don’t show any symptoms, and the primary transmitter, the Aedes mosquito, is widespread and challenging to eliminate.

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