Health officials confirmed on Monday that the number of pertussis cases in the Flathead has reached 47. Recent cases include students at Columbia Fall Middle School, a student at Hedges Elementary School and a student at Peterson Elementary School.
New cases at Smith Valley School bring the total number there up to 12. Flathead City-County Health Director Joe Russell says staff-members at the health department and at schools are working hard to contain the outbreak.
Vaccines are available at the Flathead City-County Health Department to people two months old and older.
According to experts, there are four stages in the disease, and in the second, after five to 21 days, symptoms appear.
