A test showed a New Hampshire patient died of the fatal brain disease . After this patient 's death , authorities said 13 others may have been exposed . The diagnosis of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease was confirmed by the National Prion Disease Pathology Surveillance Center , which reported its conclusion to New Hampshire 's health department and Catholic Medical Center on Friday . Normal surgical sterilization is n't adequate to eradicate disease - causing organisms . Hospital president : ` ` The risk is extremely low that any of these patients was exposed ''
A test showed a New Hampshire patient died of the fatal brain disease . After this patient 's death , authorities said 13 others may have been exposed . Normal surgical sterilization is n't adequate to eradicate disease - causing organisms . Hospital president : ` ` The risk is extremely low that any of these patients was exposed ''