Utah resident dies after contracting Zika virus
Utah health officials say a resident infected with Zika virus has died, and while the exact cause is unclear, it marks the first death related to the virus in the continental U.S.
Authorities said Friday the unidentified person from Salt Lake County tested positive after traveling to an area of the world where mosquitoes are known to spread Zika.
The Salt Lake County Health Department says the exact cause of the death in late June isn't clear because the person was elderly and also had an underlying health condition.
Health officials say they aren't releasing more information on the person or where they traveled due to privacy laws.
The virus causes only a mild illness, at worst, in most people, but infection during pregnancy can lead to severe birth defects. It's spread mainly through the bite of a tropical mosquito.
The Centers for Disease Control says no cases of locally transmitted Zika have been reported in the continental United States -- so far it has only been seen in travelers or their sexual partners.
Local health officials also say there is currently no threat of the virus being spread by mosquitoes in Utah. "The exotic mosquito species [Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus] capable of transmitting Zika virus are not found along the Wasatch Front," Dr. Ari Faraji, manager of the Salt Lake City Mosquito Abatement District, said in a statement. "In fact, so far this season, we have not detected those two species anywhere in Utah."
However, they cautioned people to protect themselves from mosquitoes when traveling abroad.
"This unfortunate situation is a tragic reminder of how important it is to receive proper pre-travel education and to protect yourself from mosquitoes when traveling abroad," said Dr. Dagmar Vitek, medical director for the Salt Lake County Health Department. "In addition to Zika, travelers need to be mindful of other diseases found around the world, including mosquito-borne illnesses like Dengue fever, malaria, and chikungunya."