The Union Leader has put together a timeline that resulted in Concord lawyer Peter McGrath filing for a class action lawsuit as a result of Rockingham County Exeter Hospital’s negligence causing a Hepatitis C outbreak
Thursday, May 10: A physician affiliated with Exeter Hospital diagnoses a patient with hepatitis C. A viral infection transmitted by blood, it causes inflammation of the liver and can lead to chronic health problems.
Friday, May 11: Another physician also associated with the hospital identifies a second patient who has tested positive for the virus.
Monday, May 14: A community physician reports a patient has tested positive for hepatitis C. Hospital officials realize all three had been patients in recent months and begin an investigation, which identifies a fourth case, that of a hospital employee.
Tuesday, May 15: The hospital formally notifies the state Health Department of the four cases. The state Division of Public Health begins an investigation.
Friday, May 25: Exeter Hospital closes its cardiac catheterization lab (CCL).
Thursday, May 31: Officials from the Division of Public Health and Exeter Hospital hold a joint press conference to announce the outbreak. The hospital begins contacting patients treated at the CCL between Aug. 1, 2011, and May 25, 2012, urging them to come in for blood tests.
Friday, June 1: Exeter Hospital announced the state has determined it’s safe to reopen the CCL, and it does so as of 4 p.m. for emergency care.
Monday, June 4: Dr. Jose Montero, the state’s public health director, announces that one of the four individuals infected with Hepatitis C is a hospital employee. A total of 651 patients have received letters advising them to get blood tests. Montero also announces the CCL is cleared for “full and normal operations” as of 8 a.m. June 5.
Wednesday, June 6: Exeter Hospital announces six new cases have been identified through testing. And the hospital expands the time period for which patients who received care at the CCL and its recovery unit should be tested, going back to April 1, 2011.
Saturday, June 9: Exeter Hospital announces four new cases and says it has contacted 879 patients in connection with the outbreak. In an interview, Dr. Montero tells the New Hampshire Sunday News that investigators are looking into “drug diversion” by a hospital employee as the possible source of the outbreak.
Wednesday, June 13: Six more patients have tested positive, Exeter Hospital announces. The caseload stands at 20. Montero announces that drug diversion is “the most likely explanation of this outbreak.” The state also pushes back the testing period to procedures done since Oct. 1, 2010, adding 316 more patients to the list of those who need testing.
Thursday, June 14: The New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office announces it has begun an investigation into “the facts and circumstances surrounding the outbreak of patients who were treated” at Exeter Hospital. The AG’s Office says it is working with Exeter and state police.
Friday, June 15: The Division of Public Health Services holds a public meeting at Exeter High School to update the community and answer questions. About 150 attend.