Reportable diseases are conditions that, due to their infectious nature and the risks they pose in being spreading to others, are mandated under the NH law to be reported to DHHS.  Reporting of suspected or confirmed communicable diseases is mandatory.  Primary responsibility to report rests with health care providers and laboratories, but anyone with knowledge of a reportable disease is required to notify DHHS.

Mail reports to CDCS or contact us directly.

West Nile Virus (WNV) normally lives in birds and is passed bird to bird by some types of mosquitoes.  Occasionally, an infected mosquito will pass the virus to humans or other animals.  Most healthy people do not get sick from the virus, but sometimes it may cause symptoms.  When humans get ill from West Nile Virus, they may have symptoms including encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) or meningitis (inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord).  Encephalitis and meningitis can also be caused by head injury, bacterial infections or more commonly, other viral infections.

Don't feed, touch or adopt wild animals, stray dogs or cats.  Be sure your dogs, cats and ferrets are up-to-date on their rabies vaccinations.  Vaccinated pets serve as a buffer between rabid wildlife and humans.  Don't try to separate two fighting animals.  Wear waterproof gloves if you handle your pet after a fight.  Keep family pets indoors at night.  Don't let them roam free or allow them to be outside unattended.  Feed pets indoors.  Encourage children to immediately tell an adult if they are bitten by an animal. 

Meningitis is an inflammation of the meninges, or the thin lining that covers the brain and spinal cord.  People can develop meningitis from certain viruses, bacteria, and fungi. Viral meningitis (sometimes called aseptic meningitis) is the most common type, caused by any number of viruses.  With viral meningitis most patients recover on their own, their doctors recommending bedrest, plenty of fluids and medicine to relieve headache and fever.  Bacterial meningitis can be caused by organisms such as Haemophilus influenzae type b; Streptococcus pneumoniae; and Neisseria meningitidis.  Neisseria meningitides is of particular concern; it is also called "meningococcal meningitis".

Meningococcal disease is a severe bacterial infection of the bloodstream or meninges (a thin lining covering the brain and spinal cord); it is more common in infants and children.  It is a relatively rare disease and usually occurs as a single isolated event.  The meningococcus germ is spread by direct close contact with nose or throat discharges of an infected person.  Many people carry this particular germ in their nose and throat without any signs of illness, while others may develop serious symptoms.  Only people who have been in close contact with a person who is sick with meningococcal meningitis need to be considered for preventive treatment.  Such people are usually advised to obtain a prescription for an antibiotic from their physician.

Over-the-counter medicated shampoos or cream rinses containing pyrethrins are the preferred treatment for head lice.  Shampoos and rinses containing lindane are available only through a prescription.  Lindane-based shampoos are not recommended for infants, young children and pregnant or lactating women.  Nit combs are available to help remove nits from hair.  Avoid direct contact with infested individuals and their belongings.  Laundering clothing and bedding in a hot wash and hot dryer or dry cleaning to destroy lice and eggs is extremely critical.  Regular direct inspection of children for head lice, and when indicated, of body and clothing, particularly of children in schools, institutions, nursing homes and summer camps, is important.

Tuberculosis (TB) is a bacterial disease usually affecting the lungs.  Other parts of the body can also be affected, for example lymph nodes, kidneys, bones, joints, etc.  Tuberculosis can affect anyone, at any age.  People with weakened immune systems are at increased risk of developing TB.  TB is spread through the air when a person with untreated pulmonary TB coughs or sneezes.  Prolonged exposure to a person with untreated TB usually is necessary for infection to occur.

There are more than 40 different species of mosquitoes found in NH.  Before purchasing a collection device, research independent articles and journals that have tested these types of devices. 

The American Mosquito Control Association indicates these devices will trap and kill mosquitoes. Success in mosquito reduction will "depend upon a number of factors, e.g. your tolerance level, absolute mosquito population size, proximity, size and type of breeding habitat producing re-infestation, wind velocity and direction, and species of mosquito present, among many other things."  It is possible traps may actually draw more mosquitoes into your area than the devices can catch.  A Primer on Mosquito Traps, a document of the American Mosquito Control Association, provides additional information about collection devices.