JACKSON — Two Mississippi counties are reporting new cases of West Nile virus, bringing the state’s total to 42 so far this year.
The Mississippi State Department of Health says Monday that Hinds County and Calhoun County each have one new cases of the mosquito-borne virus.
Mississippi has some of the highest numbers of serious West Nile infections nationwide.
Hinds County has reported 16 total cases this year. Harrison has four and Calhoun three. Adams, Forrest, Madison, Rankin and Washington counties have two each.
Reporting a single case each are Attala, Copiah, Itawamba, Jones, Lauderdale, Marion, Oktibbeha, Pearl River and Walthall counties.
Mississippi reported 63 West Nile cases and two deaths in 2017.
Health officials urge people to reduce risk by using insect repellent, wearing long, light-color clothes and eliminating standing water.
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