2025 Reportable Disease Updates
Nearly five years after the start of the pandemic, COVID-19 is no longer a reportable disease!!! (and other changes...)
The Tennessee Department of Health has updated the List of Reportable Diseases and Conditions, effective January 1, 2025. Here are some of the highlights of the 2025 updates:
COVID-19 is no longer broadly reportable, only for deaths in those under 18 (similar to flu)
Respiratory viral outbreaks will be reportable in Tennessee, replacing individual case reporting for COVID-19*
Carbapenemase-producing organisms have been expanded
Pathogens have been expanded for Hansen’s Disease, orthopoxvirus disease, and viral hemorrhagic fever
TB reporting has expanded to include Tuberculin Skin Test positive results for all ages
As healthcare providers, you will receive official notification of these changes via fax or email from the Hamilton County Health Department and/or the Tennessee Department of Health. If you have not received this notification with supporting documentation, please email HealthEpi@HamiltonTN.gov.
* Outbreak of known etiology: In high-risk congregate settings (e.g., LTCFs), two or more epidemiologically linked cases with the same test-confirmed infection (e.g., influenza, RSV, COVID-19) within a 7-day period.
Outbreak of unknown etiology: In other settings, a sudden increase in pneumonia or acute respiratory illness cases over 7 days with no known cause, disrupting normal operations.
Tips for Providers:
Why is timely reporting important?
Case surveillance is a critical measure to understand diseases and the way they spread in a population.
The Health Department works with organizations and providers to monitor, control, and prevent the spread of reportable diseases.
For more information about case surveillance and reportable & notifiable diseases, click here.
Winter Respiratory Illness
Common respiratory viruses, like COVID-19, influenza, and RSV, circulate at higher levels during winter months. Certain groups of people, including older adults, young children, immunocompromised people, people with disabilities, and pregnant people, are at a higher risk of developing severe illness from respiratory viruses.
There are numerous ways to help prevent severe illness from respiratory diseases, such as staying up-to-date with immunizations, getting tested when symptomatic, and taking certain common-sense measures like masking and handwashing.
Tips for Providers:
Encourage eligible patients to get CDC-recommended vaccines. Immunizations are available for flu, COVID-19, and RSV.
View the Best Practice for Patient Care Recommendations for the 2024-2025 Respiratory Virus Season here.
Monitor the levels of respiratory illness in the community here.
Thank you for your help in creating a healthy community. For questions or to request citations, please email the Epidemiology Team at HealthEpi@HamiltonTN.gov.
If you are a medical provider or public health professional in Hamilton County who would like to continue receiving these quarterly newsletters, please click SUBSCRIBE below.
For updated Hamilton County health data, see the 2024 Picture of Our Health report.
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