The Mississippi State Department of Health is reporting five more human cases of West Nile virus, bringing the state's total this year to 34 with two deaths.

MSDH said that the new cases are Harrison, Hinds, Pearl River, Prentiss and Rankin counties. The MSDH reports both confirmed and probable cases to the public.

West Nile has now been found in Clay, DeSoto, Forrest (6), Harrison (6), Hinds (5), Lamar, Lee (2), Leflore, Marion, Monroe, Neshoba, Pearl River, Prentiss, Rankin (4) and Washington (2) counties.

Two cases of St. Louis encephalitis have been reported in Forrest County.

In 2008, there were 65 confirmed cases of the mosquito-borne illness in the state with three deaths.