Health officials say whooping cough cases increase to 32

MISSOULA, Mont. — Montana health officials say a total of 32 cases of whooping cough have been confirmed in Missoula County, with seven new cases confirmed Wednesday.

The Missoula City-County Health Department is declaring this a community wide outbreak.

The heath department said a community wide outbreak is declared when pertussis is confirmed in more people than just certain families. The initial confirmed cases were confined to certain families and schools. It has now spread to other members of the community.

The Health Department says one additional case was confirmed on Wednesday.

The department reports there is a mix of unvaccinated and vaccinated children among the cases.

The agency is working directly with the affected families and the schools the ill children attended to identify close contacts.