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Knox County Health Department reports peak influenza season, new behavioral health services at community health center
Summary
The county health director updated council that influenza A has peaked locally, norovirus remains high, RSV is plateauing, and the health department has consolidated WIC services and expanded behavioral health services at a new 4,000 sq. ft. site with MAT and licensed clinicians.
Knox County Health Department officials briefed Mount Vernon City Council on public-health trends and services during the Jan. 27 meeting.
Health Department Commissioner Zach Green reported influenza A is at peak levels in the community, with influenza B appearing in about 5% of cases; norovirus activity is high, RSV is plateauing, and COVID-19 case counts are declining. He described the public-health implications and urged common precautions: hand hygiene and staying home when ill. Council members asked about illness duration and hospital impacts; Green cautioned that severity and hospital impacts vary and advised caution.
Green also described organizational changes and service expansions: the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program has moved to the main site at Upper Gilchrist; the health center activated a 4,000‑square‑foot site at 206 South Mulberry focused on behavioral health and substance-use services with 10 licensed independent social workers and a psychiatric nurse practitioner providing medication-assisted treatment (including Vivitrol). The department has hired a new CEO, Shauna Schott, who began onboarding the day of the meeting, and a chief medical officer, Dr. Nancy Rodway, who will start the following week.
Green said the department is establishing a PTSD specialty agreement with Dr. Brian Barkett to expand services for first responders; those services will be supported by mental‑health and recovery funding so that costs do not fall on first responders.
Council received the update; no council action was required. The health director invited questions and encouraged residents to seek vaccination and practice hygiene during peak respiratory-virus season.
