Everybody panic – a case of West Nile virus has arisen in Mississippi!

Oh, sit down. The case that was found occurred in an adult in Leflore County. That brings the state total to six, with three of those in Leflore County alone.

So, I guess you could panic if you live in Leflore county. I’m kidding, of course.

How do you know if you have West Nile? According to the CDC, “about one in 150 people infected with WNV will develop severe illness. The severe symptoms can include high fever, headache, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness and paralysis. These symptoms may last several weeks, and neurological effects may be permanent.”

Up to 20 percent of people, once again according to the trusty CDC, “have symptoms such as fever, headache, and body aches, nausea, vomiting, and sometimes swollen lymph glands or a skin rash on the chest, stomach and back. Symptoms can last for as short as a few days, though even healthy people have become sick for several weeks.”

About 80 percent of people have no symptoms at all.

Put on your repellent and light colored clothes, and go have fun out there!

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An accident being investigated by the Mississippi Highway Patrol took the life of a state inmate.

A traffic accident was called in from County Road 1101 in Prentiss County 12:30 Thursday afternoon. The inmate, 28 year old Melvin E. Weathers of Booneville, was working on the road through the Joint State-County Inmate Work Program.  He apparently stepped out into the roadway and was hit by an oncoming pickup truck.

He was transported to Baptist Memorial, where he would perish as a result of his injuries.

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