Flu season arrives in the Flathead

Flu season has hit Montana with Flathead and Gallatin counties reporting influenza cases.

The two lab-confirmed cases in Flathead County are the less virulent “B” strains of influenza, but the Flathead City-County Health Department doesn’t want people to take chances.

Joe Russell, the city-county health officer, said Flathead County is just seeing the tip right now.

“It literally means we are just starting our flu season,” he said. “We are unusual because we are seeing a strain B, which usually happens later in the year.”

Russell said the last time Flathead County had the first confirmed case of a B strain was several years ago. There was a several-week gap between that first confirmed case and the real influenza outbreaks.

In Gallatin County, one confirmed case is the H1N1 strain (the swine flu), a Type A strain.

Typically, these are more potent and dangerous and can be transmitted between animals and humans. Type B is human only, and type C is very mild compared to the first two.

A and B infect close to 20 percent of the population every year.

“Gallatin County is in it now,” Russell said. “It will hit critical mass there before long.”

For people older than 65, younger than 5, with chronic health conditions, pregnant women and health care workers, yearly vaccinations are strongly recommended.

Symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue, a dry cough, sore throat and runny or congested nose. Children especially are susceptible to nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

While vaccination is the best way to avoid the flu, covering coughs, washing hands and staying home when sick are all good ways to prevent the spread of influenza.

“We want to let the docs know we have influenza in our state,” Russell said. “It’s not too late to be vaccinated.”

For more information on influenza, including times vaccinations are offered in the Flathead Valley, go to http://flathead.mt.gov/health.