KALISPELL- There's been one confirmed case of whooping cough in the Flathead so far this school year, and in a school environment, contagious diseases often spread quickly.

Health officials told us last week they quickly got a handle on the case at Kalispell Middle School and were medicating those that may have been exposed.

School officials notified parents once they learned of the student's illness and they believe it was contracted out of the area.

But health officials say there's some good news though if you think your child has been exposed to pertussis.

"Treatment is very effective. It's the same. A treatment of a person that is known to have pertussis and those that we profilax because we suspect that they've been exposed to pertussis, it's the same treatment," Flathead City-Ciounty Health Department Dirctor Joe Russell explained.

Students who contract whooping cough but are treated correctly often only need to miss about five days of school.