West Nile Continues To Hang On In State

JACKSON, Miss. – The Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) reports four new human case of West Nile virus (WNV), bringing the 2016 state total to 30. The reported cases are in Adams, Attala, Copiah and Marion counties.

So far this year, human cases of WNV have been reported in Adams, Attala, Calhoun, Chickasaw, Copiah (3), Forrest, Hinds (7), Grenada, Jackson, Lamar (3), Lee, Leflore, Lincoln, Lowndes, Marion (3), Perry and Rankin (2) counties. There has been one WNV death reported in a Hinds County resident. The MSDH only reports laboratory-confirmed cases to the public. In 2015, Mississippi had 38 WNV cases and one death.

Symptoms of WNV infection are often mild and may include fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, a rash, muscle weakness or swollen lymph nodes. In a small number of cases, infection can result in encephalitis or meningitis, which can lead to paralysis, coma and possibly death.

The MSDH suggests the following precautions to protect yourself and your environment from mosquito-borne illnesses:

• Use a mosquito repellent with an EPA-registered ingredient such as DEET while you are outdoors.
• Remove all sources of standing water around your home and yard to prevent mosquito breeding.
• Wear loose, light-colored, long clothing to cover the arms and legs when outdoors.
• Avoid areas where mosquitoes are prevalent.