More West Nile Virus Deaths and Infections Confirmed in Louisiana

State health officials have confirmed two more West Nile Virus deaths in Louisiana during the past week.  

That brings to four the total number of Louisiana residents who have died from the disease this year.  The Department of Health and Hospitals says one of those deaths occurred here in Northwest Louisiana and the other was in the Capital Area Region.  DHH has also confirmed 19 new West Nile infections during the past week, bringing this year's total number of infections to 80.

Of the latest confirmed infections, there were six of the most serious neuroinvasive disease.  Three of those occurred in Caddo Parish.  There were also one each in Bossier, East Baton Rouge, and St. Tammany Parishes.

There were 10 new cases of West Nile fever in the past week.  Of those, there were two each in Caddo, East Baton Rouge, and Livingston Parishes.  Ascension, Bossier, Ouachita, and St. Tammany Parishes had one each.

Three new asymptomatic cases were reported in the past week.  There one each of those in Caddo, Livingston, and Rapides Parishes.

West Nile virus is spread by mosquitoes and state health officials continue to urge area residents to be extremely careful when your're outdoors and to fight the bite in every way possible.