This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
A Salt Lake County resident who tested positive for Zika virus died last month, becoming the first confirmed death related to the virus in the continental U.S.
The county Health Department announced the death Friday, saying the exact cause has not been determined. The individual, who had an underlying medical condition and was elderly, traveled this year somewhere mosquitoes are known to spread Zika, according to a news release.
"We know it contributed to [the death], but we don't know if it was the sole cause," said Dagmar Vitek, the department's medical director.
The department learned about this earlier this week. It does not plan to release additional details about the individual or where he or she traveled because of "health privacy laws," the release adds.
Experts, however, say there is no current threat of Zika from mosquitoes in Utah.
"The exotic mosquito species capable of transmitting Zika virus are not found along the Wasatch Front," said Ari Faraji, manager of the Salt Lake City Mosquito Abatement District, in the release. "In fact, so far this season, we have not detected those two species anywhere in Utah."
But they have been found in California and Arizona, and Faraji said there always is a chance of migration.
These mosquito species are considered container-inhabiting mosquitoes, Faraji said, so the district sets traps around urban habitats such as auto salvage yards and tire recycling plants. So far, Faraji said, none have turned up.
In previous years, the species have been found in St. George and Salt Lake County, but Utah winters are harsh enough that the species were unable to establish.
Three travel-associated Zika cases have been reported in Utah as of Wednesday, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Also as of Wednesday, no locally acquired mosquito-borne cases have been reported in the U.S. states, but there have been 1,132 travel-associated cases reported, the CDC states.
Cases of Zika are usually mild and rarely result in death. The most common symptoms of the virus are rash, joint pain, fever and red eyes. Some individuals with Zika never exhibit symptoms, according to the CDC.
Health officials warn Utahns that sexual activity can transmit the virus. If a woman is pregnant or trying to get pregnant, she should not have unprotected sex with a man who has been to an area where the virus is known to be spreading, according to the release.
The virus can cause birth defects in children whose mothers were infected during pregnancy, according to the CDC.
There currently is no vaccine or medication to cure Zika, so "prevention is huge," Vitek said.
Individuals who recently traveled and are concerned about the illness should contact their health care provider, the release adds. Residents can contact the Salt Lake County Health Department Travel Clinic at 385-468-4111 to learn about preventing Zika and other diseases in areas they are traveling.
Twitter: @alexdstuckey