JACKSON, Mississippi (AP) — Mississippi health officials have confirmed three new cases of West Nile virus. That brings the state’s total so far this year to 40 cases.
The total includes five deaths previously reported.
The new cases were reported in Lowndes, Neshoba, and Rankin counties.
So far this year, human West Nile cases have been reported in Adams (3), Bolivar (1), Carroll (1), Coahoma (1), Clarke (1), Covington (1), Forrest (6), Harrison (1), Hinds (9), Jones (1), Lauderdale (1), Lee (1), Lowndes (1), Madison (1), Monroe (1), Neshoba (1), Newton (1), Rankin (5), Yazoo (1), Washington (1) and Wilkinson (1) counties.
The five deaths occurred, in Coahoma, Forrest, Lee, Madison and Yazoo counties.
Health officials only report laboratory-confirmed cases to the public.
In 2013, Mississippi had 45 WNV cases and five deaths.
