Mississippi health officials are reporting the second death of the year attributed to the West Nile virus.

In addition, the state Department of Health said 19 new human cases of the mosquito-transmitted disease have been reported, bringing the total number of cases in 2008 to 73.

The agency did not provide the name of the latest death in Wednesday’s statement.

The new cases of the virus were reported in George, Grenada, Forrest, Hinds (5), Jasper, Jones (4), Leflore (2), Neshoba (2), Rankin and Wayne counties. The MSDH reports both confirmed and probable cases to the public.