Tweet
Butte health officials: Illness likely H1N1, not whopping cough
The Butte-Silver Bow Health Department is reporting sporadic cases of school-age children with flu-like illness, but while some people are concerned about whopping cough, which has shown up in neighboring counties, no cases have been reported in Butte-Silver Bow.
So far, cases of whopping cough have been confirmed in Gallatin and Lewis and Clark counties, according to Karen Billson, Assistant Health Officer for Health Services with the Butte-Silver Bow Health Department. There have been seven cases of whopping cough reported throughout the state, Billson said.
But health officials say the illness in Butte is most likely the H1N1 flu, based on its flu-like symptoms. H1N1 has been cropping up in the community since the spring and there are probably more cases surfacing with the start of the school year, according to health officials.
Symptoms of the flu-like illness are described as a sudden onset of fever (over 100 degrees), body aches, fatigue, cough and sore throat.
At this time only H1N1 is known to be circulating. Seasonal influenza is not expected to be seen until much later in the fall-winter, according to health officials.
The Butte-Silver Bow Health Department is reporting sporadic cases of school-age children with flu-like illness, but while some people are concerned about whopping cough, which has shown up in neighboring counties, no cases have been reported in Butte-Silver Bow.
So far, cases of whopping cough have been confirmed in Gallatin and Lewis and Clark counties, according to Karen Billson, Assistant Health Officer for Health Services with the Butte-Silver Bow Health Department. There have been seven cases of whopping cough reported throughout the state, Billson said.
But health officials say the illness in Butte is most likely the H1N1 flu, based on its flu-like symptoms. H1N1 has been cropping up in the community since the spring and there are probably more cases surfacing with the start of the school year, according to health officials.
Symptoms of the flu-like illness are described as a sudden onset of fever (over 100 degrees), body aches, fatigue, cough and sore throat.
At this time only H1N1 is known to be circulating. Seasonal influenza is not expected to be seen until much later in the fall-winter, according to health officials.
