New Hampshire Public Health Association

04/01/2026

A COVID-19 variant that has remained "underground" for years is catching the attention of health officials in the United States and abroad.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said in a March 19 report that it was tracking variant BA.3.2, nicknamed "Cicada," after routine surveillance noted a steady incline in U.S. cases. The World Health Organization (WHO) likewise listed the "highly mutated" virus on its Feb. 23 "variants of monitoring" record as more detections crop up in various countries, including Japan, Kenya, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.

While the variant has yet to account for a significant number of cases in the United States, it has been reported in more than 20 countries, accounting for up to 30% of cases in some, according to the CDC.

A COVID-19 variant that has remained "underground" for years is catching the attention of health officials in the United States and abroad.

04/01/2026

Poll finds bipartisan agreement women’s health should be a priority

WASHINGTON — A majority of Americans of every political persuasion believe that women’s health care deserves greater attention and that policymakers can and should do more to increase women’s access to a range of critical services. That was the core finding of a poll released Thursday by Cente...

03/31/2026

Public health in New Hampshire is at a turning point.
New federal investments are flowing. Rural health systems are being reshaped. And communities are being asked to do more—with higher expectations and higher stakes.
That’s exactly why the New Hampshire Public Health Association Annual Meeting matters this year.

https://www.nhpha.org/annual-meeting?fbclid=IwY2xjawQyafBleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeXOH8rhVm8F04h0-v4Q7W8MQjdtHMA0pPcQR4tLJHCl3N3oI7ePyTRkH6wFM_aem_rhRP-zrkTCjwaxwX2U4W5Q

6:15 – 7:30 PMKeynote AddressRural Health Transformation: NH’s Bold Plan 5:00 – 6:00 PMNetworking Reception & Poster Presentations 7:20 – 8:00 PMAwards Celebration & Closing Commitments 6pm – 6:15 PMWelcome & Opening Remarks Join Us for the NHPHA 2026 Annual MeetingGranite Strong. Future R...

03/31/2026

Free Sunscreen Dispensers Coming to NH Communities—Apply by April 6

https://www.nhpha.org/blog/free-sunscreen-dispensers-coming-to-nh-communitiesapply-by-april-6

03/31/2026

SNHU highlights role of nursing and public health education

Your future. Your terms. See why thousands choose SNHU.

03/30/2026

Courts challenge federal vaccine policy changes

A growing number of states, reaching 30 as of March, have announced that they are no longer following CDC recommendations as their benchmark for some or all childhood vaccines... The court’s stay does not change these states’ decisions and in some ways may allow them to avoid a potential ‘ping...

03/30/2026

Deli ham is classified as a carcinogen; here are 20 other common foods to know about

1. The Easy Sandwich Deli Ham You know how some kitchen habits happen without thinking, and that is exactly where deli ham lives for many of us. It shows up in lunchboxes, late night sandwiches, and those quick meals when cooking feels like too much work. Recently, health conversations started circl...

03/28/2026

Spread of COVID-19 "Cicada" variant by state

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2026/03/27/covid-variant-cicada-ba-3-2-detected-25-us-states/89349008007/ #

A "highly mutated" strain of COVID-19 that previously stayed "underground" has been found in 25 US states and 23 countries so far.

03/27/2026

Governor Ayotte highlights progress and opportunities in strengthening mental health system

On March 10, 2026, Governor Kelly Ayotte joined NAMI New Hampshire Executive Director Susan Stearns and Department of Health and Human Services Commissioner Lori Weaver for a fireside chat to kick off NAMI New Hampshire’s annual conference. The discussion focused on progress made in strengthening ...

03/27/2026

New Hampshire hospitals are rolling out a new approach to labor and delivery, called TeamBirth.

“I think the real goal is to prevent the telephone,” said Dr. Emily Donelan, medical director of the birthing pavilion at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center. “That often happens in hospitals where the patient says something to the nurse, and then the nurse comes to the doctor, and then the doctor goes to the patient, but they're not all in the same room simultaneously, and things can get lost.”

Head to the link in our comments to learn more about this approach and how it's being used at hospitals around the state. ⤵️

(📸: File photo by Paul Cuno-Booth for NHPR)

03/26/2026

The 2026 Annual Meeting convenes leaders, practitioners, advocates, students, and partners from across New Hampshire for an evening of connection, reflection, and action. Please join us on

Thursday, April 23, 2026, from 5:00–8:00 PM at the

McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center in Concord, New Hampshire

This year's theme, “Granite Strong. Future Ready: Understanding the Power of Place in Public Health”, recognizes that where we live, work, and gather influences health more than any medical care. Investing in work that strengthens communities is one of the most impactful acts of public health.

6:15 – 7:30 PMKeynote AddressRural Health Transformation: NH’s Bold Plan 5:00 – 6:00 PMNetworking Reception & Poster Presentations 7:20 – 8:00 PMAwards Celebration & Closing Commitments 6pm – 6:15 PMWelcome & Opening Remarks Join Us for the NHPHA 2026 Annual MeetingGranite Strong. Future R...

03/26/2026

National Public Health Week
Join us in Celebrating National Public Health Week, Coming April 6 - 12, 2026

Ready. Set. Action! is this year’s theme. As we celebrate, take a moment to recognize how public health has improved our daily lives, safeguarded our families, expanded our life spans, and strengthened our communities. This week is also a chance to honor the public health workers who show up for us every day — and to advocate for policies and practices that promote good health for all.

Generation Public Health is a growing movement of people, organizations and communities working together to create the healthiest nation in one generation.