West Nile Disease Continues To Hang On

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) – Mississippi health officials confirm two new cases of West Nile virus, bringing the state’s total to 32 cases this year.

The state Department of Health says in a news release Monday that the new cases of the mosquito-borne virus are in Rankin and Sunflower counties.

Seven cases, including one death from the virus, have been reported in Hinds County. Copiah, Lamar, Marion and Rankin counties have had three each. Adams, Attala, Calhoun, Chickasaw, Forrest, Grenada, Jackson, Lee, Leflore, Lincoln, Lowndes, Perry and Sunflower counties have each had one each.

In 2015, Mississippi had 38 West Nile cases and one death.

The department recommends removing standing water where mosquitoes could breed, avoiding areas with lots of mosquitoes, wearing long pants and long-sleeved shirts outdoors and using mosquito repellent