West Nile Virus Confirmed in Clay County

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CLAY COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – The Mississippi Department of Health notified Clay County officials that at least one case of the West Nile virus has been confirmed.

Clay County officials met this morning to discuss mosquito control efforts. Health officials say standing water in tires, buckets or ditches can be a feeding ground for West Nile mosquitoes. You can install screens for your doors and windows or purchase repellents containing DEET at your local hardware store. The City of West Point and Clay County officials are working together to spray specific areas and to get safety tips out to the public.

“We ask that if you have any standing water behind your house make sure it’s emptied out. We are controlling the ditches, making sure no standing water is in the ditches. We just don’t want the public to panic. We’re doing all we can do to get it under control,” says Lynn Horton, Clay County Supervisor for District One.

Symptoms for the West Nile virus can resemble the flu and may include muscle weakness or swollen lymph nodes. Peak season for West Nile virus ends this month but illnesses can occur year-round. For more information on the West Nile virus, go to HealthyMS.com/westnile.