Health officials confirmed Friday the first death from a human case of West Nile virus in Mississippi this year.

While the Mississippi State Department of Health did not release the age or identity of the deceased, officials from the state agency disclosed that the individual lived in Washington County.

“MSDH does not provide details of the specific age or gender of the death out of respect for the family,” a news release noted.

This year’s first West Nile death comes a week earlier than in 2024 when officials reported a death on Aug. 15. Last calendar year ended with 59 confirmed cases and eight human deaths.

So far in 2025, 10 cases of West Nile virus have been confirmed by the MSDH.

According to health officials, the virus is primarily transmitted through the bite of an infected mo

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