LEWIS AND CLARK PUBLIC HEALTH IS
NOW TRACKING *TWO HIGHLY
CONTAGIOUS DISEASES THAT HAVE
SHOWN UP IN THE COMMUNITY...
TODAY... HEALTH EXPERTS SAY
THERE HAVE BEEN MORE THAN A HALF
A DOZEN CASES OF WHOOPING COUGH
IN THE COUNTY... AND A NOROVIRUS
OUTBREAK THAT STARTED LAST WEEK
CONTINUES TO SPREAD....
NOROVIRUS IS A HIGHLY-CONTAGIOUS
DISEASE THAT IS EASILY SPREAD
THROUGH DIRECT CONTACT FROM
PERSON TO PERSON.
SYMPTOMS INCLUDE: VOMITING,
STOMACH PAIN, BODY ACHES AND
FEVER...
THERE HAVE BEEN 17 LAB CONFIRMED
CASES OF NOROVIRUS IN THE LAST
SEVERAL WEEKS, AND 46 PEOPLE
REPORTING SYMPTOMS.
ST PETER’S HEATH HAS RESTRICTED
VISITORS BECAUSE OF NOROVIRUS.
ACCORDING TO THE CENTERS FOR
DISEASE CONTROL, PROPER HYGIENE
IS THE BEST WAY TO PROTECT
YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY...
THAT INCLUDES REGULARLY WASHING
YOUR HANDS... AND AVOIDING
PREPARING FOOD WHILE YOU ARE
SICK... AND FOR AT LEAST TWO
DAYS AFTER SYMPTOMS END.
###
{I GUESS THE BIGGEST ISSUE WHEN
ADDRESSING NOROVIRUS IS MAKING
SURE WE DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO
CONTAIN IT. IT’S A VERY
CONTAGIOUS VIRUS AND IT JUST
TAKES STAYING HOME WHEN YOU’RE
SICK AND WASHING YOUR HANDS TO
KEEP THAT DISEASE FROM SPREADING
ALL OVER THE COMMUNITY.}
{###}
PUBLIC HEALTH ALSO TOLD M-T-N
THERE ARE SEVEN CONFIRMED CASES
WHOOPING COUGH IN LEWIS AND
CLARK COUNTY.
WHOOPING COUGH IS ALSO KNOWN AS
PERTUSSIS.
IT IS A HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS
RESPIRATORY DISEASE CAUSED BY A
TYPE OF BACTERIA.
ITS PRIMARY SYMPTOM IS A
UNCONTROLLABLE VIOLENT COUGH...
IT CAN BE VERY SERIOUS... AND
EVEN DEADLY IN INFANTS AND
CHILDREN LESS THAN A YEAR OLD.
HEALTH EXPERTS SAY VACCINES
OFFER THE BEST PROTECTION
AGAINST PERTUSSIS.
MISSOULA AREA HEALTH OFFICIALS
ARE ALSO SEEING A SIGNIFICANT
NUMBER OF WHOOPING COUGH
CASES... WITH 57 CASES IN SIX
AREA S
