JACKSON, Miss.- The Mississippi State Department of Health has reported two new cases of mosquito born viruses, one of Zika and the other West Nile.
The West Nile case was reported in Copiah County. That brings this year’s total to 15 for the state.
The individual infected with Zika recently traveled to Mexico and lives in Lamar County.
The MSDH reminds individuals that Zika Virus can cause detrimental birth defects to a developing fetus if the mother is infected during pregnancy. The virus comes with mild symptoms such as fever, joint pain, conjunctivitis, or rash.
Symptoms of West Nile are also mild and include fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, a rash, muscle weakness, or swollen lymph nodes. Infection can later cause encephalitis or meningitis which potentially lead to paralysis, coma, and even death.
