Continental US Saw First Zika Related Death In Utah

The first Zika-related death was reported late last month in the continental United States. The confirmation has come from the US health officials now.

According to the Salt Lake County health department, the Utah resident had an underlying health condition. Earlier this year he traveled to a Zika-affected region and was thereafter tested positive for the virus.

However, the exact cause of death of the elderly person has not yet been determined.

Briefing to the press people on Friday the medical officer Dagmar Vitek said Zika virus contributed to the death of the person, but it is not known whether it was the sole cause.

No further details were revealed by the officials citing health privacy concerns.

Earlier in April the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said first US death from the virus was in Puerto Rico. The 70-year-old man died from internal bleeding following development of severe thrombocytopenia, which is a rare immune reaction to the infection and causes low levels of platelets that help in clotting of the blood.

A bite from an infected Aedes aegypti or Aedes albopictus mosquito may spread Zika virus and if believed to the Salt Lake County officials both the species are not present in the area.