Zika virus preparedness summit held in New Jersey

NEW JERSEY -- The first Zika-related death in the United States has been confirmed. A 70-year-old man in Puerto Rico died from complications related to the virus.

The news comes amid a Zika summit in New Jersey today.

Senators Cory Booker and Bob Menendez joined officials from the Centers for Disease Control and state health experts at Hackensack Medical Center to discuss New Jersey’s preparedness for preventing the spread of the deadly virus.

"Today's summit comes at an important time," Booker said. "We know that the risk of a Zika outbreak in the United States this summer is increasing with each passing day. Pregnant women face a particular threat, which is why it is so important that we take immediate action to protect against this disease."

The overall message - the Zika virus could be a bigger threat to New Jersey than you think.

As of April 27,  there are 426 reported cases in the United States. 77 cases in New York and nine cases in New Jersey. They're ranked ranked 2nd and 11th, respectively, in terms of states with the highest number of Zika cases. According to the CDC, all the reported cases of infection are travel-related.

CDC Map of where Zika cases have been reported in the United States

With the summer months and mosquito season around the corner, the CDC wants to raise awareness about Zika. It's transmitted by a mosquito bite after the mosquito has bitten an infected person. The virus can also be sexually transmitted. Symptoms include fever, rash and joint pain.

The primary carrier of the virus has been the Aedes aegypti mosquito. But a recent discovery by CDC scientists found a so-called cousin of the primary mosquito. The cousin, Aedes albopictus, may live in a much bigger area reaching New York City and extending to all of New Jersey.

CDC officials hope the discovery of this second mosquito to serve as a wake-up call for state and local governments.

More troubling, the CDC has added more countries to their list where Zika is active. It includes popular vacation destinations like Aruba, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica and Puerto Rico. In Puerto Rico, officials are seeing the number of cases double every week. The island territory is now at an alarming 570 locally acquired cases and now, a confirmed death .

Puerto Rico's health secretary, Ana Rius said Friday that a 70-year-old man infected with Zika died in February from a drop in blood platelets. The U.S. territory has seen 73 of the nearly 600 cases, involve pregnant women.

CDC Map of Countries and Territories with Active Zika Virus Transmission

Earlier this month, scientists with the CDC say they have definitely linked Zika to severe birth defects including microcephaly, in which babies are born with small heads and incomplete brain development.

The report, released April 13, was published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

"This study marks a turning point in the Zika outbreak. It is now clear that the virus causes microcephaly. We are also launching further studies to determine whether children who have microcephaly born to mothers infected by the Zika virus is the tip of the iceberg of what we could see in damaging effects on the brain and other developmental problems," said Tom Friedan, director of the CDC. "We've now confirmed what mounting evidence has suggested, affirming our early guidance to pregnant women and their partners to take steps to avoid Zika infection and to health care professionals who are talking to patients every day. We are working to do everything possible to protect the American public."

For women who must travel to affected areas, it's suggested you discuss your travel plans with your doctor.

"It doesn't hurt to be prepared as we get towards the height of the summer when mosquitoes are more abundant and when many of us tend to travel on vacations," Menendez said. "We need to ensure dedicated efforts are in place to raise public awareness, improve testing methods and mosquito control techniques, and support research into the progression and effects of Zika and the development of treatments and vaccines."

The Obama administration has asked congress for almost $2 billion to fight Zika. This is on top of the $500 million originally earmarked for the fight against Ebola, now used for Zika prevention.

Currently there is no vaccine to prevent and no medicine to treat Zika virus.