It is transmitted between plants by mechanical activities like pruning and by numerous aphid species such as Myzus persicae.

It has also been found in China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Mexico, Taiwan, and the United States.

PRSV-W isolates have been found in the United States, the Caribbean, Mexico, Italy, Germany, Australia, France, India, the Middle East, and South America.

Using genetic phylogeny studies, researchers suspect the virus originated in Asia, likely India, about 2,250 years ago.

Papayas were introduced to India only 500 years ago, at which point the virus made the jump from cucurbits.

[9] This virus produces two types of inclusion bodies visible under a light microscope with proper staining of epidermal strips.

PRSV is a non-persistent virus, meaning it does not enter beyond the feeding mouthparts of the aphid, and does not circulate or multiply within its insect host.

[21] There are four main methods of control for PRSV: quarantine and geographic displacement, roguing and netting, cross-protection, and genetic modification of the host plant.

Because PRSV is a non-persistent virus and is consequently transmitted to healthy plants by aphids within a very short time period, insecticidal control is difficult and impractical.

Once symptoms have been observed, it is already too late to spray for aphids – the disease has most likely already been transmitted to nearby healthy plants.

In order to implement successful vector control, frequent preventative sprays are required, which is rarely done.

Prevention through quarantine and geographic displacement of cropland is common and has occurred in Hawaii, the Philippines and Brazil.

Production under netting is prohibitively expensive for subsistence and small-scale producers,[21] but was used effectively in Taiwan because geographical displacement was not possible on such a small island.

[23] There are two transgenic varieties of papaya, Rainbow and SunUp, both of which were created by Dennis Gonsalves[24] and his team and were introduced for production on May 1, 1998.

[25] Rainbow (created by Dennis Gonsalves[24]) is an F1 hybrid, which is a cross between the yellow-fleshed Kapoho and the red-fleshed SunUp.

PRSV's coat protein gene was inserted into highly embryogenic plant tissue by using the newly invented gene gun, which led to the development of the transgenic line 55–1, which was proven to be effective at controlling Hawaiian strains of PRSV.

[29] The evaluation of whether or not to release transgenic papaya in the United States was undertaken by APHIS, the EPA and the FDA.

The university was highly motivated to help save the Hawaiian papaya industry, and consequently took a leading role in pushing for commercialization of the fruit.

Exposure to foreign strains of the virus is a serious risk, as Rainbow papayas have been shown to be susceptible to PRSV from Guam, Taiwan and Thailand.

For example, between 1973 and 1984, papaya production moved substantially in Brazil away from Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo to the northern states of Espirito Santo and Bahia.