Flu and pertussis on rise

With a flu emergency declared in Boston and other large cities in the U.S. scrambling in the face of growing numbers of flu cases, the Flathead City-County Health Department last week reported 152 confirmed flu cases in Flathead County.

Of those, 54 were new cases of both type A and B in early January, Community Health Services director Jody White said Jan. 9. The flu season is definitely coming early this year, both here and nationwide.

“Usually Montana is not one of the first states to see high incidence,” White said. “Generally it will move from the higher populated areas. It will move from east to west most years.”

White called the number of flu case in the Flathead typical for this time of year. Type B flu usually has milder symptoms than Type A.

Two people with the flu were hospitalized, she said, and both had underlying health conditions. One long-term care facility in the county also reported a flu case.

Meanwhile, two more cases of pertussis, or whooping cough, were diagnosed among students at Flathead High School and one case at Cayuse Prairie School.

The number of pertussis cases reported since an outbreak in October has reached 64, White said. Pertussis cases in the Flathead have increased in recent years, from 21 cases in 2011 to 139 for 2012.

“Any type of unusual cough that’s lasting longer than a week, we really encourage people to seek medical evaluation,” she said.

Health providers say they have ample supplies of flu vaccine for this year’s season. Unvaccinated people who think they have been exposed already can ask for an antiviral prescription to decrease the severity.