Mississippi’s first confirmed case of West Nile virus in 2025 has been reported in Rankin County, the state health department reported on Thursday.
Last year, there were 59 recorded confirmed human cases and eight deaths related to the virus in the Magnolia State. West Nile virus is transmitted primarily through the bite of an infected mosquito. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 8 out of 10 people infected with West Nile virus do not develop any symptoms.
Roughly one in five people who are infected develop a fever with other symptoms such as headache, body aches, joint pains, vomiting, diarrhea, or rash.
“The summer is prime time for mosquitoes to feast and potentially spread illnesses like West Nile virus,” a release from the Mississippi State Health Department reads. “While the risk of a healthy person getting WNV from a mosquito bite is very low, we all need to take precautions.”
While indulging in the summer sun and outdoor activities is not discouraged by healthcare officials, experts do warn the public to avoid all possible contact with mosquitos.
