MOUNT VERNON — With peak flu season looming, Knox Public Health Epidemiologist, David Hatley II’s November communicable disease report shows an increase in local influenza and other common winter-time illnesses.
Hatley presents these reports prior to each month’s board meeting, with each one detailing current information about a variety of diseases and viruses in Knox County.
November’s influenza data, depicted in a graph from Hatley’s report below, signifies weeks 48 to almost 50 of the year as “moderate to high” with a peak expected around the end of February.
“Current influenza case counts are rising, and we are entering the start of influenza season,” the report states. “If you have not yet received your influenza vaccine, please do so to ensure protection for the months ahead.”
According to the report, the graphs above and below calculate the threshold from the average and standard deviation of monthly disease reporting from 2019 to 2024.
Despite the upward trend in cases, the report states that “current wastewater monitoring at the Mount Vernon Treatment Plant shows stable very low or nondetectable levels of COVID-19, Influenza A, Influenza B and RSV.”
That means the reported infections for the people whose wastewater flows to the Mount Vernon plant are currently low, according to the report.
“While wastewater data is informative, it should be interpreted cautiously and in conjunction with other forms of surveillance,” the report says.
“Influenza wastewater testing is highly experimental at this time and needs to be interpreted with extreme caution. It is typical to see small variations up or down from week to week.”
Other reportable diseases
KPH also recorded the following reportable diseases in November 2025.
- Anaplasmosis-Anaplasma phagocytophilum: One case suspected during November; two cases recorded year to date. One case recorded in 2024.
- Campylobacteriosis: Three probable cases during November; 29 cases recorded year to date. 22 cases recorded in 2024.
- Chlamydia infection: Four confirmed cases during November; 57 cases recorded year to date. 82 cases recorded in 2024.
- Cryptosporidiosis: One confirmed case during November; Five cases recorded year to date. 12 cases recorded in 2024.
- E. coli, Shiga Toxin-Producing (O157:H7, Not O157, Unknown Serotype): One confirmed case in November; two cases recorded year to date. Five cases recorded in 2024.
- Hepatitis C – chronic: Two confirmed cases during November; 20 cases recorded year to date. Ten cases recorded in 2024.
- Lyme Disease: 12 suspected cases during November; 188 cases recoded year to date. 120 cases recorded in 2024.
- Meningitis – bacterial (Not N. meningitidis): One probable case during November; four cases recorded year to date. Zero cases recorded in 2024.
- Pertussis: One confirmed case during November; two cases recorded year to date. Six cases recorded in 2024.
The link below shows Hatley’s full report, which contains data on Norovirus, RSV, Parainfluenza and more.