The Mississippi Department of Health has reported nine new human cases of the West Nile virus in Mississippi during the past week.

The new cases are in Adams, Forrest, Jones, Lamar, Lauderdale, Leake, Madison, Warren and Wayne counties.

The department, which reports both confirmed and probable cases of the mosquito-transmitted virus, said the state's total of human cases this year is 85, with three resulting in death.

Symptoms of West Nile virus infection are often mild and may include fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, a rash, muscle weakness or swollen lymph nodes.

In a small number of cases, infection can result in encephalitis or meningitis, which can lead to paralysis, coma and possibly death.