JACKSON, MISS— The Mississippi State Department of Health has confirmed two new cases of Zika Virus and three new cases of West Nile Virus in the Magnolia state.
Both patients diagnosed with Zika Virus had recently traveled to Nicaragua. The diagnoses came from Lafayette and Madison counties and has brought the total of travel-related Zika virus cases in the state to 16.
While local transmission of Zika was confirmed in Miami, there have been no locally transmitted cases in Mississippi.
“Although there has been local transmission in Florida, it’s important to remember that all of the cases that have been reported in Mississippi are travel-related. It is crucial that pregnant women not travel to countries where Zika is actively being transmitted,” said MSDH Deputy State Epidemiologist Dr. Paul Byers. “Additionally, we are in peak West Nile virus season in Mississippi, and all residents should be mindful of protecting themselves, regardless of whether there has been a case reported in your county.”
The new cases of West Nile Virus were diagnosed in Calhoun, Hinds, and Leflore counties, which brings the state’s total diagnoses of West Nile to 11 for this year.
West Nile Virus has been found in Calhoun, Hinds (4), Grenada, Lamar (2), Leflore, Lowndes and Rankin counties so far in 2016. Last year, 38 people were diagnosed with West Nile and one died from complications of the virus.
