CDC Confirms First Zika-Related Death In U.S.
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PUERTO RICO (CBSMiami) -- Puerto Rico has reported the first death of an American linked to the Zika virus.
Puerto Rico's health secretary announced that a 70-year-old man, infected with the virus, died in February after suffering a drop in blood platelets.
The U.S. territory has seen more than 680 Zika cases, according to the Center for Disease Control, including 73 pregnant women.
"The death of an American citizen should serve as a wake-up call to all those in Congress who continue to block our efforts to stop the spread of this virus. While this may be the first Zika-related death in our country, it won't be the last if Congress does not start taking this virus seriously," said Florida Sen. Bill Nelson.
Another 16 people infected have been hospitalized, with four of them believed to have developed a temporary paralysis condition known as Guillain-Barre, an illness linked to the Zika virus.
The CDC recommended travelers and residents of Puerto Rico take precautions to avoid mosquito bites.