The Place Where Movies Never Get Old

In a follow-up on the adenovirus outbreak at the Wanaque Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation in Haskell, the New Jersey Department of Health reports an additional medically fragile child with respiratory illness died.

Map of New Jersey/ National Atlas of the United States
Map of New Jersey/ National Atlas of the United States

The Department of Health does not currently have laboratory confirmation of adenovirus in this child, so the total number of confirmed adenovirus cases associated with this outbreak remains at 23 — although there have now been eight deaths.

October 22 remains the most recent date of illness onset. To date, confirmed cases became ill between Sept. 26 and Oct. 22.

The facility has agreed to cease new admissions for the duration of the outbreak and yesterday established a 24/7 hotline for families affected. The Wanaque Center is also offering professional grief counseling to anyone impacted.

This is an active investigation of an outbreak of adenovirus so it is possible that lab tests will confirm additional cases. A Department of Health Communicable Disease Service staff member is on site at the facility and monitoring the outbreak. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is assisting with lab testing and expertise.

“Like” Infectious Disease News on Facebook

Adenovirus is a respiratory virus which can cause mild or serious illness, though serious illness is less common. Symptoms may include common cold, sore throat, bronchitis, pneumonia, diarrhea, pink eye, fever, bladder inflammation or infection, inflammation of the stomach and intestines and neurological disease. The strain of adenovirus seen in this outbreak (#7) is associated with communal living arrangements and is known to cause severe illness — especially in those with compromised immune systems.