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The Dartmouth
July 14, 2025 | Latest Issue
The Dartmouth

NH health officials report two 'probable' cases of swine flu

New Hampshire health officials have identified two "probable" cases of swine flu in the state, Gov. John Lynch, D-N.H., announced at a press conference held Thursday afternoon. Both of the affected individuals are employees at Concord Hospital. A third "suspect case" of the swine flu was scheduled for evaluation during the conference, N.H. State Public Health Director Dr. Jose Montero said.

One of the "probable cases" did not go to work at the hospital while ill, while the second employee did work while exhibiting symptoms and may have been contagious, Montero said. All patients, visitors and other hospital employees who may have come in contact with the second employee are being contacted and treated as necessary, Montero said.

It is unclear whether the third "suspect case" went to work while exhibiting symptoms, Montero said.

Test results from both probable cases have been sent to the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta, Ga., Lynch said.

Concord Hospital, like many hospitals in the United States, does not have the capacity to screen for the swine flu, according to Chris Neilsen, communications director for the N.H. Department of Health and Human Services.

"We have had no confirmed cases yet," Lynch said at the press conference. "We're in the same mode we've been all week, a higher level of vigilance."

Concord Hospital is still running and is still "safe" for patients to receive care, he confirmed.

The state will continue to prepare for the outbreak of cases until these cases have been confirmed, according to Chris Pope, Director of Homeland Security and Emergency Management for New Hampshire's Department of Safety.

"There's a number of other activities going on around the state, issues and procedures we have trained and exercised in," Pope said.

The state is working with several constituent groups in the state's 19 different regions to address the potential cases, officials said.

Officials recommended that state residents wash their hands frequently, keep their mouths and noses covered while sneezing and seek evaluation if they exhibit flu-like symptoms.

"If this situation continues to evolve and grow, antivirals will be used to treat people with high risk of complications or those who are already ill," Montero said at the press conference. "That way we prevent the misuse of antivirals and we keep them for the people who will really benefit from them."

Jason Aldous, media relations manager for Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, said that DHMC will implement any necessary operational changes to deal with the potential presence of swine flu in the state tomorrow, when Concord Hospital receives the final test results from CDC.

"We're in the same mode we've been all week, a higher level of vigilance," Aldous said. "That situation may be very different tomorrow morning, but that's where we are right now."

Aldous added that DHMC is working with the All Health Hazards Regional Group to develop a contingency plan to address the potential spread of the disease in New Hampshire.