Usually by this time of the year, flu season is winding down, but that’s not the case this year. The Knox County Health Department reports that confirmed cases of influenza have increased significantly during the past few weeks with several hospitalizations.

 

According to Lisa Dudgeon, RN, communicable disease nurse for the health department, there have been 330 reported cases of influenza in Knox County since the beginning of the flu season last October, with nearly three-fourth of those cases occurring in the past six weeks. During that same time period, there have been 29 people hospitalized, with more than one-third occurring in the past six weeks. The numbers are reported by local healthcare providers including Knox Community Hospital, to the health department. (read more)