By Michaela Gibson Morris Daily Journal TUPELO – Mississippi has plenty of work left to do, but a national report card shows the state has made significant gains in being prepared for public health emergencies. Since 2013, Mississippi improved in four out of the five broad categories on the National Health Security Index, according to a report released today by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. “It appears Mississippi is improving at a faster rate than the country as a whole,” said University of Kentucky Professor Glen Mays, who lead the team of researchers. Mississippi still lags the nation with a score of 6.3 out of 10, compared to a national average of 6.8.