NJ State Health officials are investigating a viral outbreak that left six children dead and a dozen injured at a rehabilitation center in Passaic County.
Officials say 18 cases of adenovirus at the Wanaque Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation in Haskell, Passaic County was confirmed.
Adenoviruses usually cause mild illnesses, but the health department says this outbreak is particularly severe because it is affecting medically fragile children with severely compromised immune systems according to officials.
"This strain has been particularly associated with disease in communal living facilities," the department said in a statement. "The combination of a worse strain of adenovirus together with a fragile population has led to a more severe outbreak."
Officials say the facility was ordered not to admit any new patients until the outbreak ends.
A health department team is at the facility, and an inspection team was also there Sunday. The team on Sunday found minor hand-washing deficiencies, and the department is continuing to work closely with the facility on infection control issues.
This is an ongoing outbreak investigation.
Wanaque Center administrator Rowena Bautista issued the following statement:
"The Wanaque Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation has recently experienced some cases of the Adenovirus in its pediatric unit. The facility promptly notified all appropriate government agencies when the virus was initially identified, including the New Jersey Department of Health, The Passaic County Department of Health, The Communicable Disease Service and the Centers for Disease Control. The Wanaque Center continues to fully cooperate with these agencies and has sought out their medical guidance with respect to the virus. As a result, facility staff have diligently implemented all available infection control and prevention measures in order to protect the health and safety of the Wanaque Center's residents."