Mississippi fitness officers verify Three New cases of West Nile Virus

JACKSON, omit. – The Mississippi State branch of fitness (MSDH) stories three new human cases of West Nile virus (WNV), bringing the 2016 state total to 14. The reported circumstances are in Chickasaw, Copiah, and Perry counties.

to this point this yr, human instances of WNV had been suggested in Calhoun, Chickasaw, Copiah, Hinds (4), Grenada, Lamar (2), Leflore, Lowndes, Perry and Rankin counties. The MSDH best stories laboratory-validated circumstances to the public. In 2015, Mississippi had 38 WNV circumstances and one loss of life.

additionally, nowadays the MSDH studies one new commute-associated case of Zika virus, bringing the 2016 complete to 17 in Mississippi. The case turned into said in a resident of Harrison County who currently traveled to Puerto Rico.

Zika is a mosquito-borne virus that motives extreme delivery defects in a developing fetus – including mind harm, hearing and vision loss, and impaired growth – if the mom is contaminated all over pregnancy. Zika virus an infection can cause a mild disease with signs (fever, joint ache, conjunctivitis or rash) lasting for a couple of days to every week, but 80 % of these infected have gentle symptoms or no symptoms in any respect. death is terribly rare. The MSDH strongly advises pregnant ladies not to shuttle to countries where Zika is actively being transmitted.

Zika has been viewed in constituents of Africa, Southeast Asia, and some Pacific islands for years, however has currently been stated in approximately 50 countries, frequently within the Caribbean, critical and South the us. The breed of mosquito that's spreading Zika – Aedes aegypti – has not been detected in Mississippi on account that the early Nineties. The MSDH is at present conducting surveillance for Aedes mosquito populations in each county within the state.

"up to now in Mississippi, all of our Zika cases were shuttle-linked. It continues to be essential that pregnant women no longer travel to international locations the place Zika is actively being transmitted," pointed out MSDH Deputy State Epidemiologist Dr. Paul Byers. "also, we're in height West Nile virus season in Mississippi, and all residents should still remember of conserving themselves, in spite of no matter if there was a case suggested on your county."

indicators of WNV infection are often gentle and can consist of fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, a rash, muscle weak spot or swollen lymph nodes. In a small variety of circumstances, an infection can lead to encephalitis or meningitis, that could cause paralysis, coma and might be demise.

The MSDH suggests right here precautions to protect yourself and your atmosphere from mosquito-borne illnesses:

Use a mosquito repellent with an EPA-registered ingredient corresponding to DEET if you are outdoors.

get rid of all sources of standing water around your home and yard to steer clear of mosquito breeding.

put on free, easy-coloured, long clothing to cowl the arms and legs when outside.

avoid areas the place mosquitoes are commonplace.

For extra suggestions on mosquito-borne ailments, talk over with the MSDH site at HealthyMS.com/westnile and HealthyMS.com/zika.