Trinity Mount Ministries

Tuesday, October 23, 2018

Six Children Dead In 'Severe' Virus Outbreak At NJ Facility

Six children are dead because of a severe and life-threatening virus outbreak at a NJ rehabilitation facility, according to the state.


Six Children Dead In 'Severe' Virus Outbreak At NJ Facility
Six children are now dead because of a severe and life-threatening virus outbreak at a New Jersey facility that was reported this week, according to state health officials.
The state Department of Health says it is investigating a total of 18 adenovirus cases at the Wanaque Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation in Haskell, Passaic County.
"Of these 18 cases, there have unfortunately been six deaths of pediatric residents," according to a statement from the Department of Health.The facility has been instructed not to admit any new patients until the outbreak ends and the Wanaque Center is in full compliance with medically appropriate standards, officials said.
A department team was at the facility Tuesday and an inspection team was also there Sunday. The team on Sunday found minor handwashing deficiencies and the Health Department is continuing to work closely with the facility on infection control issues, officials said.


This is an ongoing outbreak investigation.
Adenoviruses are tyicaly a family of viruses that often cause mild illness, particularly in young children. But this particular strain of adenovirus (#7) is affecting medically fragile children with severely compromised immune systems, according to Donna Leusner, a spokeswoman for the health department.
"The combination of a worse strain of adenovirus together with a fragile population has led to a more severe outbreak," she said.
Inspectors from the Department of Health were also at the facility on Monday. The department has been following the situation very closely and has been in close contact with clinical and administrative staff, providing guidance on infection control and cleaning procedures, Leusner said.
The Wanaque Center is a professional nursing home, rehabilitation center and pediatrics center which offers short and long term care in a secure and caring environment, according to its website.
Adenoviruses can cause a wide range of illnesses such as:
  • Common cold
  • Sore throat
  • Bronchitis (a condition that occurs when the airways in the lungs become filled with mucus and may spasm, which causes a person to cough and have shortness of breath)
  • Pneumonia (infection of the lungs)
  • Diarrhea
  • Pink eye (conjunctivitis)
  • Fever
  • Bladder inflammation or infection
  • Inflammation of stomach and intestines
  • Neurologic disease (conditions that affect the brain and spinal cord)
Adenoviruses can cause mild to severe illness, though serious illness is less common. People with weakened immune systems, or existing respiratory or cardiac disease, are at higher risk of developing severe illness from an adenovirus infection, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
CDC photo

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