A surge in whooping-cough cases at Kalispell Middle School has prompted the cancellation of a school dance scheduled this evening.

The middle school has 26 confirmed cases of whooping cough (or pertussis), leading to the cancellation Thursday of the “School’s Out” spring dance.

The outbreak over the past several weeks at the school is in addition to the 79 whooping-cough cases tallied in Flathead County by the end of March. Flathead County had the highest number of pertussis cases in the state, which has had a total of 265 cases since the beginning of the year.

The majority of those affected locally are school-age children, many of whom have been inoculated against the illness.

Jody White, director of Community Health Services, said there have been 26 new cases since May 1 in the Flathead, ranging from a preschool-aged child to Kalispell high-school students to adults.  

Whooping cough is a highly contagious respiratory tract infection that can lead to uncontrollable coughing.

Whooping cough mimics the common cold in early stages, with a runny nose, congestion and possibly mild coughing or fever. It can develop into coughing fits that may last weeks.

The fits are violent and force air from the lungs, causing a rapid inhalation with the illness’ signature “whooping” noise. It can easily incapacitate children as well as adults and can be deadly for infants.

“It’s been going on for two months,” Principal Tryg Johnson of Kalispell Middle School said. “It seems like every other day or so, we have new confirmed cases.”

In the past, whooping cough arrived in cycles, much like influenza. This appears to be changing, as cases have been reported consistently for the last year in all age groups.

Johnson said there probably are students in the school who are ill but not showing obvious signs yet. Putting several hundred children in close proximity at the dance was deemed too big a health risk.

Johnson sent an email to parents informing them about the canceled dance as well as what they should do if their child is sick.

The first step is to take coughing children to get tested. While the test results are out, officials ask parents to keep kids home.

The bacteria that cause pertussis are easily spread but can be curtailed by simply washing hands and covering mouths when coughing. The best way to prevent the illness is to make sure children are up to date on shots.

Health-care providers usually prescribe a five-day course of azithromycin.

While children are taking the antibiotics, they should stay home from school, since they are still contagious.

Otherwise, health officials ask parents to keep children home for 21 days for the illness to run its course.

Reporter Ryan Murray may be reached at 758-4436 or by email at rmurray@dailyinterlake.com.