Number of pregnant women with Zika in U.S. triples

The number of pregnant women with Zika in the United States has more than tripled in the last few weeks, and cities surrounding the Lowcountry have a high risk for the virus, according to the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

The CDC said Friday that 157 pregnant women in the United States have tested positive for the Zika virus. The number increased from 48 pregnant women with Zika in the U.S. reported on May 4.

The total number of travel-associated cases reported in the U.S has climbed dramatically in the last few weeks, according to CDC reports. As of May 18, a total of 544 Zika cases have been reported in the U.S. -- jumping from 472 total cases reported on May 4.

As of May 19, one confirmed travel-associated case of Zika virus has been reported in South Carolina, according to DHEC.

According to a study from PLOS Current, Charleston and Savannah are among nine cities that by July, could have a “high abundance” of aedes aegypti — the yellow fever mosquito — which is the primary “vector” or carrier of the virus.

According to the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC), mosquitoes in South Carolina do not carry the Zika virus at this time. While the primary mosquito that can carry Zika virus, Aedes aegypti, is only found in small numbers in the Lowcountry, another possible carrier, Aedes albopictus, is more common.

Health officials say the southeast region along the coast of the United States is more at risk for the Zika virus, because of the warm climate, according to the Washington Post.

DHEC says about one in five people infected with Zika virus become ill, while symptoms can start to develop between three and seven days after the mosquito bite.. Common symptoms include fever, rash, joint pain, or conjunctivitis (red eyes).People can minimize their exposure to mosquitoes by wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants, using bug repellant, avoiding peak feeding times at dusk and dawn, and draining standing water from their yards.

“The most important step in controlling mosquitoes is to find all of the places where water can accumulate,” a DHEC spokesperson said.

This story was originally published May 20, 2016 at 1:46 PM with the headline "Number of pregnant women with Zika in U.S. triples."