West Nile Virus and Other Mosquito-Borne Illnesses

Mosquito-borne illnesses in Mississippi include West Nile virus, St. Louis encephalitis, Chikungunya virus, and Eastern Equine encephalitis. These illnesses affect birds, animals and humans, causing flu-like symptoms in people who are bitten by infected mosquitoes. Occasionally, illness can be severe, leading to meningitis or encephalitis.

Personal Protection

• 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.

Home and Yard

• Mosquito protection for people and homes
• Complete protection guide for homeowners
• Mosquito breeding areas – Tip & Toss
• Mosquito control (EPA)
• Combata el Mosquito En Su Casa y Su Vecindario
• More WNV information from the CDC

2025 Human Cases

Human WNV Cases

1

Human WNV Deaths

0

All 2025 Case Data

Information and Fact Sheets

• West Nile Virus: Information and Prevention PDF
• Mosquito-Borne Viral Diseases brochure PDF
• Insect Repellents and DEET Tips PDF
• Educational Materials
• More brochures and information

WNV Support Group

Persons diagnosed with West Nile virus illnesses are invited to attend meetings of the WNV Support Group. Support Group meetings are sponsored by the Mississippi Methodist Rehabilitation Center.

• More about the WNV Support Group

For Health Professionals

• Signs & Symptoms – Facts for Clinicians
• Mosquito biology and control: The mosquito vectors of West Nile
• Identification Guide to Adult Mosquitoes in Mississippi
• Setting up a mosquito control program
• More clinical information from the CDC

Other Mosquito-Borne Diseases

Several common viral diseases in Mississippi are carried by mosquitoes, including Eastern Equine encephalitis and St. Louis encephalitis.

• Read more about these diseases

For More Information

• State Board of Animal Health

Links referenced on this page
recommended mosquito repellent		http://msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/index.cfm/14,957,93,html ok
standing water		http://msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/index.cfm/14,597,93,html ok
window screens		http://msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/index.cfm/14,597,93,html ok
Mosquito protection for people and homes		http://msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/index.cfm/14,597,93,html ok
Complete protection guide for homeowners		http://msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/index.cfm/14,1097,93,html ok
Mosquito breeding areas – Tip & Toss		http://msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/index.cfm/14,1206,93,html ok
Mosquito control (EPA)		https://www.epa.gov/mosquitocontrol
Combata el Mosquito En Su Casa y Su Vecindario		http://msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/index.cfm/14,0,93,94,html ok
More WNV information from the CDC		https://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/index.htm
All 2025 Case Data		http://msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/index.cfm/14,0,93,1042,html ok
West Nile Virus: Information and Prevention		http://msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/index.cfm/14,518,93,pdf/WestNileVirus.pdf
Mosquito-Borne Viral Diseases brochure		http://msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/index.cfm/14,510,93,pdf/MosquitoBorneViralDiseases.pdf
Insect Repellents and DEET Tips		http://msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/index.cfm/14,458,93,pdf/InsectRepellentsAndDEET.pdf
Educational Materials		http://msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/index.cfm/14,0,93,111,html ok
More brochures and information		http://msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/index.cfm/14,0,93,92,html ok
Mississippi Methodist Rehabilitation Center		http://www.mmrcrehab.org
More about the WNV Support Group		https://www.methodistonline.org/community-benefits/support-groups
Signs & Symptoms – Facts for Clinicians		https://www.cdc.gov/westnile/symptoms/index.html
Mosquito biology and control: The mosquito vectors of West Nile		http://extension.msstate.edu/sites/default/files/publications/publications/p2336.pdf
Identification Guide to Adult Mosquitoes in Mississippi		http://extension.msstate.edu/publications/publications/identification-guide-adult-mosquitoes-mississippi
Setting up a mosquito control program		http://msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/index.cfm/14,800,93,pdf/MosquitoControlManual.pdf
More clinical information from the CDC		https://www.cdc.gov/westnile/index.html
Read more about these diseases		http://msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/index.cfm/14,3951,93,html ok
State Board of Animal Health		https://www.mbah.ms.gov/

Resources referenced
West Nile Virus: Information and Prevention		https://msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/index.cfm/14,518,93,pdf/WestNileVirus.pdf ok
Mosquito-Borne Viral Diseases brochure		https://msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/index.cfm/14,510,93,pdf/MosquitoBorneViralDiseases.pdf ok
Insect Repellents and DEET Tips		https://msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/index.cfm/14,458,93,pdf/InsectRepellentsAndDEET.pdf ok
Setting up a mosquito control program		https://msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/index.cfm/14,800,93,pdf/MosquitoControlManual.pdf ok

Find this page at http://msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/index.cfm/index.cfm

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