Six children dead and another 12 ill after contracting deadly adenovirus at New Jersey pediatric care facility days after inspectors ‘found handwashing deficiencies’
- Six immunocompromised children have died and another 12 have fallen ill at the Wanaque Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation in Haskell
- Adenoviruses are a group of viruses that infect the linings of the eyes, lungs, intestines, urinary tract, and nervous system
- The strain of the outbreak has been identified as type 7, which is most commonly associated with acute respiratory disease
- Children with weakened immune systems are at an increased risk of developing neurological diseases from an adenovirus infection
- Health Department investigators visited the facility on Sunday and found ‘minor handwashing deficiencies’
Six children have died and another 12 have fallen ill after a ‘severe outbreak’ of a potentially life-threatening virus at a New Jersey pediatric care facility.
The New Jersey Department of Health confirmed that a total of 18 children with compromised immune systems were infected with adenovirus at the Wanaque Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation in Haskell.
The outbreak was reported days after inspectors found ‘minor handwashing deficiencies’ at the facility, which houses elderly people and children.
Adenoviruses usually cause mild illnesses, but health officials say that outbreak is ‘severe’ because of the infected children’s weakened immune systems.
According to a statement from the Department of Health, the Wanaque Center ‘has been instructed not to admit any new patients until the outbreak ends and they are in full compliance.’
Six children with compromised immune systems are dead and another 12 are ill after contracting adenovirus at the Wanaque Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation in Haskell, New Jersey (pictured)
Adenoviruses are a group of viruses that infect the linings of the eyes, lungs, intestines, urinary tract, and nervous system.
They are the cause of several infections including the common cold, respiratory tract infections, pink eye, diarrhea, bronchiolitis and pneumonia.
Adenoviruses are responsible for about 10 percent of fever-related infections among US children, and most children will have at least one type of infection by age 10.
Once exposed, there is incubation period of two to 14 days before symptoms appear.
Because they are highly contagious, adenoviruses are common among places with large groups of kids including hospitals, schools, camps and day care centers.
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According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), adenoviruses can be spread by an infected person coughing or sneezing. Droplets fly through the air and land on surfaces.
A child can catch the virus by touching an infected person or if they touch the toy or an object of someone with the virus and then touch their face without washing their hands.
In some cases, adenoviruses can be spread through the stool of an infected person, such as while changing a diaper.
it’s also possible to get sick by eating food prepared by somebody who did not was their hands properly after using the bathroom.
Those who have weakened immune systems are at an increased risk of developing a severe illness or neurological diseases from an adenovirus infection.
The origin of the outbreak at the Wanaque Center remains unclear, but officials told NorthJersey.com the facility notified them of some respiratory illnesses on October 9.
Adenoviruses are a group of viruses that infect the linings of the eyes, lungs, intestines, urinary tract, and nervous system. Pictured: Colorized transmission electron micrograph of adenovirus
The outbreak was reported days after inspectors found ‘minor handwashing deficiencies’ at the facility. Pictured: Street view of the Wanaque Center
Nicole Kirgan, a spokeswoman for the health department, told Daily Mail Online in a statement that the outbreak was caused by adenovirus type 7.
According to the CDC, type 7 is most commonly associated with acute respiratory disease.
A vaccine has been approved for types 4 and 7 by the US Food and Drug Administration, but only for US military personnel at risk for infection.
Kirgan added: ‘The combination of a worse strain of adenovirus together with a fragile population has led to a more severe outbreak.’
Inspectors from the Department of Health visited the facility on Sunday and found ‘minor handwashing deficiencies’.
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy released a statement that read: ‘I am heartbroken by the news that several children have lost their lives in an adenovirus outbreak at the Wanaque Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation, and pray for the full recovery of the other children impacted.
‘I have been briefed by Dr Elnahal, who has assured me that the Department of Health has recommended vital measures to enhance protections against the further spread of infection and will continue its active on-site surveillance.
‘I am confident that the steps being taken by state and local officials will minimize the impact to all those who remain at the facility, including patients and employees.’
Inspectors from the Department of Health visited the facility on Sunday and found ‘minor handwashing deficiencies’
The Wanaque Center says on its website that it is a for-profit facility that works with ‘with medically fragile children’ from newborn to 22 years old.
It also offers an adult nursing home and rehabilitation center for either short-term or long-term care.
In 2016, 23 children were infected with adenovirus after receiving eye exams at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, resulting in the death of an infant.
Staff attributed the outbreak to medical personnel not wearing gloves and not cleaning equipment properly.
Philly.com reported in August that the parents of the infant who died, Melanie Sanders, are suing the hospital for negligence.
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