West Nile virus claims another life

The Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) reports the death of a Leflore County resident due to complications from West Nile virus (WNV), and seven additional human cases of WNV for 2009, bringing the state’s total to 46 with three deaths.

The new cases are in Forrest (two), Rankin (three), Harrison and Marshall counties. The MSDH reports both confirmed and probable cases to the public.

Since July 2009, WNV cases have been reported in Clay, DeSoto, Forrest (eight), Harrison (seven), Hinds (seven), Lamar (two), Lee (three), Leflore, Marion (two), Marshall, Monroe, Neshoba, Pearl River, Prentiss, Rankin (seven), 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 horses, 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.