More West Nile virus cases identified

ACROSS MISSISSIPPI — The Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) reports five additional human cases of West Nile virus (WNV) for 2009, bringing the state’s total to 34 with two deaths. The new cases are in Harrison, Hinds, Pearl River, Prentiss and Rankin counties.

The MSDH reports both confirmed and probable cases to the public.

Since July 2009, WNV cases have been reported in Clay, DeSoto, Forrest (six), Harrison (six), Hinds (five), Lamar, Lee (two), Leflore, Marion, Monroe, Neshoba, Pearl River, Prentiss, Rankin (four) and Washington (two) counties.

Two cases of St. Louis encephalitis have been reported in Forrest County.

The Board of Animal Health has reported two cases of WNV in a horse, one each in Harrison and Lafayette counties.

The MSDH conducts statewide mosquito testing with its most intensive surveillance during the peak WNV mosquito reproduction months of July, August and September. To date, seven mosquito samples have tested positive for WNV – four in Harrison County and one each in Hinds, Jackson and Washington counties.