Friday, the Mississippi State Department of Health announced the first human case of West Nile Virus for 2020 was reported in Claiborne County.

“This is a reminder that even though we are in the midst of ongoing transmission of COVID-19, West Nile virus has not gone away,” said MSDH State Epidemiologist Dr. Paul Byers. “We are approaching the time of year when WNV is most active in Mississippi, so it’s important to protect yourself.”

In 2019, Mississippi had a total of 15 West Nile cases and no deaths.

Byers said while most infected people recover without any long-term problems, some develop a more severe infection that can lead to complications and even death, especially in those over 50 years of age.

Symptoms of virus infection are often mild and may include fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, a rash, muscle weakness or swollen lymph nodes. In a small number of cases, infection can result in encephalitis or meningitis, which can lead to paralysis, coma and possibly death.

State health officials suggest the following precautions to protect yourself and your family from mosquito-borne illnesses:

• Use a mosquito repellent with an EPA-registered ingredient such as DEET while you are outdoors.
• Remove all sources of standing water around your home and yard to prevent mosquito breeding.
• Wear loose, long clothing to cover the arms and legs when outdoors.
• Avoid areas where mosquitoes are prevalent.

 For more information on mosquito-borne illnesses, visit the MSDH website at HealthyMS.com/westnile.