WBRZ - Baton Rouge

BATON ROUGE - The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH) has confirmed three additional human cases of West Nile Virus, one of them the potentially deadly neuroinvasive disease.

The neuroinvasive disease case was an adult in Vernon Parish and the two adult asymptomatic cases were in Tangipahoa Parish.

This year, Louisiana has had a total of four human West Nile Virus infections.

Last year, Louisiana recorded 12 cases of West Nile virus, the lowest number over the 10 years the state has been tracking the disease.

A neuroinvasive illness is severe and typically results in a swelling of the brain or spinal cord. People with this illness are at risk of brain damage or death.

West Nile fever is less severe, with most people only suffering mild, flu-like symptoms.

"This is a reminder that West Nile Virus is once again here in Louisiana," said Dr. Ratard DHH State Epidemiologist. "It should always be taken seriously. In view of that, we should all take some simple precautions to avoid mosquito bites and to reduce mosquito populations in and around the home."