public health

Rockingham Healthiest County In N.H., Coos Struggles

Amanda Loder — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 17:36:21 +0000

Rockingham County is officially the healthiest place in New Hampshire, while Coos County is struggling in terms of public health. That’s according to a report released by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin.

Public Health Advocates Say State Can't Grow Complacent

Todd Bookman — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 19:35:06 +0000

Earlier today, public health advocates gathered inside the State House cafeteria--as good a place as any--to update lawmakers on initiatives aimed at combating obesity.

Healthy Eating Active Living, or HEAL NH, organized the forum. Community projects set up displays touting successes like playground gardens and improved sidewalks.

Mosquitoes Become Latest Public Health Battle

Todd Bookman — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 10:00:00 +0000

Mosquitoes get West Nile Virus from birds, and then they give it to us. It’s Ryan Naujoks's job to stop that. He works for Dragon Mosquito Control, a private company that municipalities like Derry hire to spray insecticides.

"I’m at Rider Field right now, and everything is locked up," Naujoks says over the phone. "Rider Field…"

Eventually, someone from the Town of Derry comes and unlocks the gates. Naujoks fires up the sprayer.

The truck makes a lap around the field emitting a small puff of white smoke.

Questions Remain Following Hepatitis C Outbreak

Todd Bookman — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 21:36:23 +0000

After a lifetime of health challenges, the last thing Katrina wanted to hear was that she’d contracted Hepatitis C.

“I was devastated,” says the 41-year old, whose last name is being withheld at her request.

She also suffers from diabetes and kidney failure, and believes she got Hep C about five years ago, possibly from sharing razors with a female roommate.

Because Hep C can live in the body for decades without producing symptoms, it’s sometimes called the silent killer.

TB Scare At Concord Elementary School

Rachel Gotbaum — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 16:50:20 +0000

Public health officials have confirmed a case of tuberculosis at Dane Elementary School.

Director of Public Health, Dr. Jose Montero, says the infected child, a kindergarten student, likely contracted the illness from an adult who was exposed to the dangerous bacteria abroad. Most TB is treatable and is spread through the air. Montero says the adult was treated effectively.

New Hampshire One of Healthiest States In Nation

Amy Quinton — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 21:04:51 +0000

A new report shows New Hampshire is again among the healthiest states in the nation.

But health officials say there is still room for improvement.

The United Health Foundation’s report looked at a variety of health issues, including heart disease deaths, cancer rates, premature births and access to health insurance.

New Hampshire was ranked second healthiest, an improvement from third last year.

The state scored well because of its low percentage of children in poverty, low crime rate, and high use of prenatal care and immunizations.