MISSOULA – The number of confirmed pertussis cases has doubled in the Missoula area.
Missoula City-County Health Department Director Ellen Leahy told MTN News on Tuesday that there are now 14 confirmed cases of pertussis, also known as whooping cough, up from the seven that were reported on April 26.
Leahy also says that the number of people considered to be “close contact” cases has also risen from 300 to nearly 500.
Confirmed pertussis cases have been reported in eight separate Missoula area schools. A case was reported at Lolo School on Friday.
A confirmed whooping cough case has also been reported in the Florence Carlton School District.
Several eighth grade FCS students who are considered to be “close contacts” were sent home from school on Monday.
The health department is working directly with the affected families and the schools to identify close contacts. Once a close contact is identified, the child and the child’s parents will be notified.
Leahy previously told MTN News that they are working diligently to prevent as many new cases as possible.
-Reporting by Connor McCauley and Mark Thorsell, MTN News
