Public Information Office
(603) 271-9391
August 31, 2012
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.