JACKSON, MISS– One new case of Zika Virus and one new case of West Nile Virus has been confirmed in Mississippi by state health officials.
The latest reported case of West Nile Virus was diagnosed in Lincoln County, bringing the state’s total to 20 for the year.
The other confirmed cases were in in Calhoun, Chickasaw, Copiah, Hinds, Grenada, Lamar, Lee, Leflore, Lowndes, Marion, Perry and Rankin counties.
Last year, 38 people were diagnosed and one died.
Another diagnosis of Zika Virus has also been confirmed. The patient, native to Warren County, had recently traveled to Puerto Rico.
So far, 21 people have been diagnosed with Zika in Mississippi, but all of the cases have been travel related.
The mosquito that carries Zika Virus has not been found in Mississippi since the 1990’s, but health officials urge any person who has recently traveled to a Zika-prone area to avoid mosquito exposure in Mississippi for up to three weeks.
