By Cynthia Grau/WJEZ News

With West Nile detected in Livingston County in the middle of July, people are looking for education about the virus.

Donnie Simmons, director of environmental health at the Livingston County Public Health Department, explained how the virus is spread from birds to mosquitoes then to humans through the mosquito bites. He said, luckily, not everyone exposed through bites will fall ill.

“A large portion of the people who do become ill are those who have immune-compromised systems, such as the elderly and young, and are more susceptible to the virus itself, once they become bitten by the mosquito,” Simmons said.

For more information about the West Nile Virus, visit idph.state.il.us.