JACKSON — The Mississippi State Department of Health is confirming three new cases of West Nile virus.
That brings the total so far this year to 58 cases of the mosquito-borne illness, including two people who died earlier. The new cases are in Hinds, Rankin and Sunflower counties.
In 2016, the state had 43 cases with two deaths.
So far this year, there have been 13 cases in Hinds County; seven in Rankin County; five in Forrest County; four in Madison County; three in Lee County; and two each in Calhoun, Humphreys, Lincoln, Lowndes, Monroe and Scott counties.
Counties with one case each are Bolivar, Clarke, Clay, Covington, DeSoto, Jones, Lauderdale, Leake, Leflore, Noxubee, Perry, Sunflower, Wilkinson and Yazoo.
The deaths were in Forrest and Humphreys counties.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 36 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.