West Nile virus update for local counties and parishes

The Mississippi Department of Health says one more person is confirmed to have West Nile virus, bringing the state's total this year to seven cases.

The department said on Monday the new case of the mosquito-borne illness is in Forrest County. Copiah, Hinds, Lamar, Leake and Smith counties each has a single case. Forrest County now has two.

In 2018, Mississippi had 50 human cases of West Nile virus, with no deaths from it. In 2017, the state had 63 cases with two deaths.

The state epidemiologist, Dr. Paul Byers, says most cases occur between July and September.

Officials with the Louisiana Department of Health are reporting that the state has seen its first human cases of West Nile virus in 2019, including four cases in Washington Parish.— and one case in St. Tammany.

Symptoms may include fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, rash, muscle weakness or swollen lymph nodes.

Health officials urge people to reduce risk by using insect repellent, wearing long, light-colored clothes and eliminating standing water.