39 new West Nile cases adds up to 215 total in Louisiana

The number of West Nile virus infections in Louisiana has reached 215, with 39 new cases reported this past week.

No new deaths were added in the latest report. The death toll from the virus so far this year stands at 10.

Louisiana's health department says the state is experiencing its highest number of West Nile cases in years. And Hurricane Isaac is getting some of the blame. The storm left behind a lot of standing water, providing breeding areas for mosquitoes.

Humans are infected when they are bitten by infected mosquitoes.

West Nile virus usually results in no symptoms. But it can cause West Nile fever, which produces flu-like symptoms. In some cases it can cause neuroinvasive disease, which can result in paralysis, brain damage or death.