South Carolina has had seven travel-associated cases of Zika virus. One was a resident who had sexual contact with someone who acquired the virus. In Georgia there are 31 travel-related cases. So far, there have been no U.S. borne cases of Zika reported. But that’s the only good news.

“There’s no prevention for Zika, there’s no vaccine yet, there’s no treatment if you get it. Most adults who get the disease, its very mild, they may not even know they have it. they might have a fever, or a headache, they might have a rash or joint ache, but they might not even know they have the virus,” said Dr. Lynn Norton of Coastal Carolina Hospital.

Experts worry that the impacts to pregnant women are just starting to show. So, they advise no one travel to these areas.

“We don’t travel to the Caribbean, even on a cruise ship, we don’t go to Mexico, to the Olympics, if we are pregnant we avoid those areas entirely.”

Norton says they’ve already tested two patients for Zika at Coastal Carolina, both negative, but many people may not even know they have the virus. And because even men can spread this virus–you must use extra care if you or your partner travels to these infected areas.

“Its recommended to either abstain from intimate contact entirely,for six months after traveling to an endemic area, or using condoms, but for the whole range of intimate contact.”

And Norton says you need to prepare yourself for Zika to hit our area, and there are things you can do now.

“We recommend that women wear insect repellent, wear long sleeves, and avoid dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most prevalent.”

In Beaufort County, Mosquito Control offers advice about Zika as well. Log onto http://www.bcgov.net/departments/Public-Safety/mosquito-control/documents/ZIKA-rev02152016.pdf

For more on Georgia’s Zika numbers and info go to https://dph.georgia.gov/

For South Carolina go to http://www.scdhec.gov/Health/DiseasesandConditions/InfectiousDiseases/InsectAnimalBorne/ZikaVirus/