Jackson Free Press

Mississippi has one of the nation's highest rates of West Nile infections and rates of death from the mosquito-borne disease.

So far, four Mississippians have died from West Nile-related complications, according to information from the Mississippi State Department of Health. Two deaths occurred in Rankin County. Smith and Lincoln Counties reported one death each.

With 129 total cases, which include confirmed and probable cases, Mississippi is one of four states with more than 100 cases this year.

The Centers for Disease Control numbers show that Texas has reported 888 total cases and 35 deaths. Louisiana has reported six deaths. South Dakota and Oklahoma have 119 and 113 cases, respectively.

This year's number of cases is more than twice the 2011 total of 52 cases.

The 1,993 cases of West Nile virus disease so far in 2012 is the highest number reported to the CDC since the first detection of the virus in 1999.

About 80 percent of infected people will show no symptoms. Mild and serious symptoms, which occur in up to 20 percent of people infected, might include fever, headache, body aches and weakness, nausea, vomiting and swollen lymph glands.

Health experts suggest installing window screens, removing standing water and using insect repellent when going outside, particularly at dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active.