A Lincoln County woman may have become the third victim of WestNile Encephalitis this year.

Lottie Mae Baker Davis, 76, of Bogue Chitto died Nov. 28 ofcomplications resulting from the mosquito-borne virus, according toSouthwest Regional Medical Center in McComb.

Dr. Mary Currier, an epidemiologist at the MississippiDepartment of Health (MSDH), which tracks the virus, said she wasunaware of any cases in Lincoln County.

“We don’t have a reported case from Lincoln County,” she said.”We have one in Pike County, but we usually record them by place ofresidence and not location of physician.”

Currier said it is possible that she has simply not beennotified of the case yet. The health department only loosely tracksWNV cases after being notified of them.

“We do to an extent,” she said. “We ask people to report to us,and we have a support group, but for those who have recovered andmoved on we don’t really keep up with them.”

Deaths, however, are usually reported, she said. Until now, onlytwo deaths were attributed this year to West Nile from cases inPearl River and Lauderdale Counties.

Last year, 12 Mississippians died from the virus.

Although the peak of the mosquito season has long passed, healthdepartment officials continue to urge caution and prevention.

Two new cases of West Nile were reported Nov. 26 in Pearl Riverand Forrest Counties. The state’s total number of human casesstands at 81 this year.

“The number of new cases of West Nile virus each week hasdeclined since the peak of the season,” said Sally Slavinski, anepidemiologist with MSDH. “Still, it is important to remember thatwe are continuing to identify new human cases of the mosquito-bornevirus. The two new cases were likely infected in mid-November, andlast year we identified a case as late as December.”

Currier agreed. “We did have cases into December last year, andpeople still need to take precautions,” she said. “Evidently, wecontinue to have mosquitoes, although they’re fewer and fewer andbite less.”

Currier recommends people avoid mosquito-prone areas, especiallyat night when mosquito activity is at its highest. She alsoencourages people to wear protective clothing and use insectrepellents that contain DEET on exposed body parts whenoutdoors.

Case studies seem to indicate the elderly and young children arestill the most susceptible to the virus, she said.

Symptoms of WNV infection are often mild or flu-like and mayinclude fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, a rash, muscle weakness,or swollen lymph nodes. In a small number of people, infection canresult in encephalitis or meningitis and may result in paralysis,coma or even death.

Davis, a Lincoln County native, was retired from PackardElectric and was a switchboard operator for King’s DaughtersMedical Center. She was a member of Pleasant Hill Baptist Church.She also founded The Widowed Womens Club in the Pleasant Hillcommunity.

Funeral services are 2 p.m. Monday at Pleasant Hill BaptistChurch with burial in the church cemetery.