First 2019 case of West Nile virus confirmed in Smith County

If you have a mosquito buzzing in your ear at 2 a.m., it can certainly focus your attention, but the bugs are more than just annoying. A mosquito’s bite can make folks very sick and even kill them.

The Mississippi Department of Health has confirmed the first case of West Nile Virus this year in Smith County.

Although last year saw no deaths from the mosquito-borne disease, two people died in 2017 and two the year before that. In 2014, seven Mississippians died from West Nile.

Most cases of West Nile are so mild as to go undetected in healthy people; however, the symptoms can be flu-like, including fever, headache, body aches, skin rash, and swollen lymph nodes. Severe symptoms and signs may include a stiff neck, sleepiness, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, and paralysis. It can also lead to meningitis and encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain that can be fatal, and long-term health effects.

MDH advises Mississippians to adopt best anti-mosquito practices:

• Use a recommended mosquito repellent.
• Cover arms and legs with long sleeves and long skirts or pants.
• Avoid mosquito-prone areas in the mornings and evenings, when mosquitoes are most active.
• Remove sources of standing water around your home where mosquitoes can breed, and make sure window screens are in good condition.

For more information about West Nile and other mosquito-borne illnesses and how to prevent them, visit the MDH website.