Knox County Tennessee

Epidemiology & Data


Epidemiology is the study of patterns in health-related events in society. It allows identification of the risk factors for disease, and determination of best approaches for treatment and prevention. For both communicable and non-communicable diseases, epidemiologists conduct investigations of disease outbreaks, collect data, perform statistical analysis, and document these results in reports.

Call 865-215-5093 to report notifiable or reportable conditions.

View a list of reports and data prepared by the Epidemiology (EPI) Program at the Knox County Health Department here.


Reportable Diseases

The EPI Program conducts surveillance and follow-up investigations of 54 Reportable Diseases that are required by law in the state of Tennessee to be reported to public health authorities (excluding STDs, TB, and HIV/AIDS which are followed by staff in our Communicable Disease Clinic).

Local physicians, hospitals, and labs report cases of reportable diseases to the EPI program using a standardized Reportable Disease Report Form. A nurse in the EPI Program interviews each case to determine likely sources and risk factors for contracting the disease, to ensure that the patient receives adequate treatment and education about preventing disease transmission, and to determine the need for follow-up and treatment of contacts if required. EPI staff also respond to foodborne and other disease outbreaks, and respond to reports of disease or unhealthy conditions throughout the county.


Chronic Diseases

Chronic disease epidemiology deals with diseases that last a long time such as arthritis, asthma or diabetes. The three leading causes of death in Knox County are heart disease, cancer, and stroke - all forms of chronic diseases. Reducing risk factors such as obesity, tobacco use, unhealthy nutritional choices and a sedentary lifestyle may help avoid many common chronic diseases such as heart disease, Type II diabetes, and some forms of cancer. The surveillance of injuries and body mass index levels in Knox County is also a function of chronic disease epidemiology.

Visit our other pages for more information on chronic disease prevention programs offered at KCHD.


Environmental

Environmental epidemiology is the study of the health effects of environmental exposures. Environmental factors affecting human health may be natural or may result from human activity. Environmental exposures may directly lead to a health condition, such as exposures to chemicals, physical agents (e.g. radiation or noise), and biological organisms, or may contribute to poor health conditions over a period of time, such as social conditions or climate change. The geographical and temporal distribution of health conditions and causative factors is also studied.


Syndromic Surveillance

Syndromic surveillance uses individual and population health indicators that are available before confirmed diagnoses or laboratory results to identify outbreaks or health events and to monitor the health status of a community. By automating public health data collection, syndromic surveillance provides public health information in near real time, often sooner than a laboratory test can even be completed. This allows KCHD to detect and respond to outbreaks and health events more rapidly than would otherwise be possible. In addition to rapid response, the syndromic surveillance data provides information for longer term, ongoing monitoring of chronic conditions such as heart disease and diabetes, injuries, and the use of healthcare services.


Other Services

The EPI program works with many different partners throughout the community to provide and assess data related to public health. This assists our partners to evaluate community needs, program performance, make policy decisions and plan for the future.

Additionally, the continual gathering data through surveillance, investigations, and surveys allows the EPI program to produce reports and respond to data requests on specific subjects from elected officials, other government entities, researchers and the community. The reports and information on obtaining data on a specific subject can be found on the Reports and Data page.

Working with other health departments at the local, state, or national level, the EPI program assists with the investigations of regional or national disease outbreaks, environmental situations like the coal ash spill in Roane County, and in the aftermath of disasters like hurricanes or tornadoes that may require a large, coordinated response.


Contact and additional resources

Staff in the EPI Program can be reached by calling (865) 215-5093.

  1. Tennessee Department of Health. Reportable Diseases. Available at
    https://apps.health.tn.gov/ReportableDiseases/. Accessed May 2, 2012.
  2. Tennessee Department of Health. Reportable Diseases and Events. Available at
    https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/health/documents/TN_Reportable_Events_Guidance.pdf. Accessed May 2, 2012.
  3. CDC. 2012. Syndromic Surveillance. Available at
    http://www.cdc.gov/ehrmeaningfuluse/Syndromic.html. Accessed May 2, 2012.


Need to report a public
health emergency?

Call 865-215-5093

Have Questions? Call: (865) 215-5555 Email: Health@knoxcounty.org

On the first Wednesday of every month, all KCHD offices and clinics are closed in the morning for staff in-service. On these days, the main location (140 Dameron Ave.) will open at 11 a.m. and the West Clinic (1028 Old Cedar Bluff) will open at 11:30 a.m.

Clinics will also open at 10:30 a.m. (Main location) and 11 a.m. (West Clinic) on the following Wednesdays: April 17 and July 17. All other offices will open at 8 a.m.