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November 9, 2005

First Case of 'Homegrown' Flu Confirmed

A Cascade County woman in her 70s has become the first Montanan to have a confirmed case of "homegrown, garden-variety" flu this season, state health officials said Wednesday.

The woman has been hospitalized. Health officials said she has not traveled recently outside Cascade County , indicating that the virus is circulating locally.

"This shouldn't be confused with the bird flu that's been making headlines lately," said Jim Murphy, disease surveillance specialist with the state Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS). "This is just your usual homegrown, garden-variety flu that we see every year."

In a typical year, 5 to 20 percent of Montanans--45,000 to 180,000 people--can expect to get the flu, Murphy said. Most suffer fairly mild symptoms, but the disease can be deadly among vulnerable populations, such as the very young, the very old, and those who have compromised immune systems. Nationwide, about 36,000 people die of flu each year.

"This marks the beginning of the flu season," Murphy said. "It typically begins in Montana somewhere between mid-November and mid-December and ends in January or early February."

State health officials urged Montanans to take the following precautions to help limit the spread of the disease:

  • Wash your hands thoroughly and frequently, especially after contact with anyone who may be ill;
  • Cover your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing;
  • Stay home from work, school or day care when you're sick;
  • Avoid large gatherings when you're sick;
  • Get plenty of rest;
  • Eat nutritious foods and drink plenty of fluids; and
  • Get a flu shot.

Although some Montana communities have experienced uneven distribution of flu vaccine this year, state health officials expect adequate supplies to be available in coming weeks.

"Flu vaccine is slowly making its way to county health departments, doctors' offices, and hospitals," said Joyce Burgett, head of the Immunization Program at DPHHS. "Some vaccine manufacturers are still shipping their orders, and we expect a significant portion of vaccine to arrive in Montana in November, December, and January."

Burgett recommended that Montanans watch their local newspapers for flu vaccine clinics or periodically check with their physician or local health department to find out about vaccine availability.

Page last updated: 06/15/2006