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Eric A. Kropp, MD, was inaugurated as the 190th president of the New Hampshire Medical Society during its 2021 Annual Scientific Conference held at the Omni Mount Washington Resort in Bretton Woods, succeeding anesthesiologist Dr. Kenton Allen.

In 2016, Dr. Kropp started his solo practice, Active Choice Healthcare, in Concord as a pioneer in Direct Primary Care and fostered New Hampshire law about this innovative and emerging medical practice model. He is a founding member of both the New England and National Direct Primary Care Alliances.

On October 20, 2021, NH DHHS issued a health alert on updated 2021 sexually transmitted infections guidelines.

Key Points and Recommendations:

• Refer to CDC’s new 2021 STI Treatment Guidelines for information on prevention, screening, diagnosis, and treatment of STIs. The following are some key updates: 

On September 17, 2021, NH DHHS issued a health alert on SARS-CoV-2 monoclonal antibody therapy updates.

Key Points and Recommendations:

• Management of patients with COVID-19 vary by setting and severity of illness; providers should familiarize themselves with COVID-19 treatment guidelines from both the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA) 
  • Note the NIH has updated their guidance on use of bamlanivimab plus etesevimab but this not yet been incorporated into their guidance summary 
  • Review the recent CDC HAN advising against the use of ivermectin, which has not been shown to be effective at treating or preventing COVID-19 

On August 31, 2021, NH DHHS issued a health alert update on the recall of LeadCare blood lead tests.

Key Points and Recommendations:

• Magellan Diagnostics, Inc. has expanded their product recall involving the LeadCare ® blood test kits. This expanded COOR-LO recall includes LeadCare® II Blood Test Kits lots: 2012M (Sublots -08, -09, -10, -11, -12, -13, and -14); 2018M; 2102M; 2109M, 2110M; 2111M; 2112M; 2113M; 2114M; and 2115M and is outlined below. These lots are in addition to previously recalled lots.

On August 13, 2021, NH DHHS issued a health alert on mRNA COVID-19 vaccine 3rd dose recommendations.

Key Points and Recommendations:

• On August 12th, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized use of a 3rd dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines for certain immunocompromised persons. The Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) amendment does NOT apply to the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine, or to individuals who received the Janssen vaccine as a primary series. 

On July 2, 2021, NH DHHS issued a health alert regarding NH's lowering of the pediatric blood lead action level to 5 mcg/dL

Key Points and Recommendations:

• Effective July 1, 2021, NH RSA 130-A, Lead Paint Poisoning Prevention and Control, lowers the NH public health action level for children with elevated blood lead levels (BLL) to 5 mcg/dL; NH’s action level is now consistent with CDC’s blood lead reference level. 

On June 28, 2021, NH DHHS issued a health alert regarding mosquito-borne diseases in NH in 2021.

Key Points and Recommendations:

1. The first ever detection of Jamestown Canyon virus (JCV) in a mosquito has been detected from a batch of Aedes excrucians collected on 6/8/2021 in Bow, NH. During the 2020 season, one human case of JCV was identified in Bow.