Whooping Cough Cases in Montana

Montana health officials have identified seven cases of whooping cough in and around the region of Helena, and are urging residents of that area to consider vaccination and booster shots prevent a full-fledged outbreak of the dangerous respiratory disease.

Pertussis, commonly known as "whooping cough,"  is a highly contagious respiratory disease that causes fits of severe coughing that can persist for weeks-on-end, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The worst cases of this bacterial infection can cause victims to cough violently and rapidly until nearly all the air is gone from their lungs. When the fit finally ends, the victim's body will take over, inhaling as quickly as possible and causing a loud "whooping" sound that gives the illness its name. These fits of coughing and oxygen deprivation can cause vomiting and severe exhaustion, and are potentially deadly to children younger than one year old.

Karen Wandel of the Lewis and Clark City - County Health department told local press on Tuesday that these whopping cough cases began to appear early this month and nearly half of the seven current cases originated from Capital High School of Lewis and Clark County of the Helena area.

Other victims from the surrounding regions are reportedly children ranging from pre-school to high-school age groups and potentially exposed their classmates to the highly contagious infection while in school.

While no additional cases of pretussis have been reported, it may be one to two weeks after initial infection before the disease presents itself as anything more than just a common cold.

Wandel told the Independent Record, a Helena local paper, that two or three more cases from the same source will officially label the current illnesses as part of an outbreak.

Officials are advising parents to have their children vaccinated and for adults in the area to follow-up with a perussis booster shot in the interest of caution.