Flu Outbreak Comes Early To Montana

Montana and Alaska are the first states in the nation to record outbreaks of influenza A, and empty seats at schools and businesses are showing the impact.

State health officials say the seasonal plague has been confirmed in outbreaks around the state. The first were in in northeastern Montana last month, and cases now are being confirmed in Missoula and Beaverhead counties in the west.

It is early. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says flu season generally begins in November, and outbreaks don’t usually start until December or January… the earliest I can recall seeing it in Montana.”

Health and school officials said Gallatin, Yellowstone, Hill and Beaverhead counties have been some of the hardest hit so far.

Type A influenza is considered the most common of the three principal strains of flu, and it causes the most miserable symptoms - fever, sore throat, muscle aches, malaise, cough and runny nose.