Mississippi health officials are reporting five new human cases of the West Nile virus.

The state Department of Health says the total number of human cases of the mosquito-transmitted disease in 2008 now stands at 78 with two deaths.

The new cases are in Harrison County, three in Hinds, and one in Rankin County.

The Mississippi Board of Animal Health also reports one case of WNV in a horse in Calhoun County.

On the Net:

Mississippi Department of Health, http://www.HealthyMS.com/westnile