Watch: What you need to know about Zika in SC

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ROCK HILL, SC –ABC COLUMBIA’S Amanda Fitzpatrick reports.
York County announcing it’s first case of the Zika virus, bringing the total to 18 cases in South Carolina.

Chuck Haynes with Emergency Management in York County says, “The Zika virus is not in the mosquito population, it is only in one person that traveled to a country that has Zika.”

Zika is primarily spread through the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito.

And officials say those mosquitoes don’t live here.

“Nowhere in the US, Continental US, does the mosquitoes carry Zika,” says Haynes.

But it seems like the number of Zika cases are growing.

Most cases in the U.S. are from travelers who have gotten the virus from countries with active Zika or from having sex with someone who contracted the virus.

“It’s important to be vigilant about protecting yourself against the Zika virus if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant,” says Ursula Douglas RN, MSN and director for Care Ring NC.

Many who are infected show mild symptoms or no symptoms at all.

And though patients eventually recover, the CDC says women and their partners hoping to get pregnant, should wait at least 8 weeks if they’ve been exposed.

“Prevention is key, there is no cure or medication to treat Zika,” says Douglas.

South Carolina health officials recommended mosquito treatment in portions of the York County as a precautionary measure.

York county is contracting a licensed pesticide company to treat those areas- no date has been set and they say its just a precaution.