NH DHHS Releases Statement on Updated Testing Recommendations Regarding Hepatitis C Investigation

The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Division

of Public Health Services (DPHS) has recommended testing of additional

Exeter Hospital employees as part of the hepatitis C outbreak

investigation, as previously announced on August 15th. Pursuant to this

recommendation, Exeter Hospital notified its employees and began collecting

specimens on August 27th. Since then, in the course of the investigation,

DPHS has uncovered new information that has allowed DPHS to narrow the list

of employees recommended for testing. DPHS has provided Exeter Hospital

with the refined criteria for testing. Exeter Hospital has not yet

provided DPHS with information regarding the actual number of employees

that fall within the new criteria or their names. This investigation

remains an important public health concern. DPHS’s mission is to protect

the public’s health and its recommendations are in accordance with this

mission and New Hampshire State law. This is a complex and ongoing

situation and DPHS is working as thoroughly and as quickly as possible to

complete its investigation. DPHS will continue to keep the public updated

with new information as it becomes available.