KALISPELL, Mont. — The Flathead County whooping cough outbreak has grown so much local health workers want the state health department involved.”Just last week, we tested several more cases, and one on Friday came back positive,” reports Joe Russell, Director of the Flathead County Health Department.As of Tuesday,16 cases were confirmed which is double the number from last week. That’s because health workers uncovered more cases that weren’t previously deemed whooping cough.”They wanted to make sure that we took a higher level of precautions with those that had symptoms that weren’t tested but were related to someone who had symptoms and tested positive through a lab confirmation,” comments Russell about Montana’s Department of Public Health and Human Services.with the news of more cases comes some positive news. The Flathead County Health department reports more people are realizing a cough might not be a cold, and they’re seeing their doctors.”Now we’re having these folks coming in and getting tested, and we’re finding out that they are [positive],” explains Russell.Understanding who’s positive, believes Russell, helps the county keep cases contained. Even so, it’s still highly contagious and airborne. Russell asks the community to be aware and to see the doctor if whooping cough symptoms arise.

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