NH Confirms Three Active TB Cases, Exposure Sites

New Hampshire health officials identified two additional active tuberculosis cases infectious in Manchester and Nashua, bringing the total to three cases in the state since March. The Department of Health and Human Services is working with Manchester and Nashua health departments and community partners to identify and notify possible contacts but warned that exposures at several public locations may make it impossible to reach everyone. Officials are asking anyone who attended the “Loads of Love” event at Wash Street Laundromat (1231 Elm St.) on Jan. 1–July 17 (Monday and Thursday nights, 10 p.m.–1 a.m.) or who was at the Hillsborough County Department of Corrections (445 Willow St.) April 16–25 or May 9–Aug. 15 to seek TB testing; an earlier case involved the Families in Transition shelter and the 12-69 Cafe where outreach clinics were held. Free testing is available through local public health departments (for example the Nashua Division of Public Health and the Manchester Health Department) and people without a primary care provider can call 2-1-1 for help accessing care. Deputy State Epidemiologist Dr. Elizabeth Talbot said the overall risk of becoming sick after exposure is low but screening can prevent serious illness and further spread; residents should watch for symptoms such as a persistent cough, unexplained weight loss, night sweats and fever, and note that latent TB infection can require treatment even if no symptoms are present.