Flathead suffers late outbreak of influenza

The number of confirmed influenza cases in Flathead County his spiked with a spring surge of the illness.

There have been 196 confirmed influenza cases here in the last two weeks; through March 26, Flathead County had recorded a total of 507 influenza cases since October.

“This is definitely not a typical flu season — we normally see this in January,” said Hillary Hanson, Flathead County’s deputy health officer. “A lot of times, people think of influenza as normal and not a big deal. But lots of hospitalizations and deaths happen every year.”

Hansen said 22 Flathead County residents were hospitalized with influenza during February and March.

Flathead County has the highest influenza numbers in the state, accounting for nearly 20 percent of Montana’s total. Lewis and Clark County is second-highest with 404 cases this season.

Statewide since Sept. 1, 2015, there have been 2,585 influenza cases and 235 hospitalizations reported to the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services.

There have been six deaths in Montana attributed to influenza.

Hansen said the difference in case numbers compared with the rest of the state could be because Flathead County has a better-than-average reporting system and a higher population than neighboring counties.

The majority of cases have been Influenza A, H1N1.

Shari Neubauer of Kalispell said she didn’t realize the illness was going around until she received a call from Glacier High School reporting her daughter had a 102-degree temperature.

“Then all of a sudden I hear kids had it throughout her grade and even a teacher had it,” Neubauer said. “This has been just an awful experience.”

Neubauer’s daughter recovered within a week, but Neubauer also was infected by the flu, which eventually led to pneumonia. She has been hospitalized for nearly a week.

Neubauer said neither she or her daughter had been vaccinated.

The H1N1 virus that infected Neubauer, though once rare, is now a seasonal flu virus that is included in annual vaccinations, Hansen said.

The Centers for Disease Control stated in a preliminary report that the influenza vaccine has been 59 percent effective in preventing influenza this season.

“The number one thing to prevent influenza is to get a vaccination,” Hansen said. “Not just to protect yourself, but the people around you who can’t get the vaccination yet.”

Hansen said people should also follow traditional health suggestions such as staying home if they’re sick and remembering to wash their hands frequently.

Reporter Katheryn Houghton may be reached at 758-4436 or by email at khoughton@dailyinterlake.com.