Another medically fragile child with respiratory illness at the Wanaque Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation in Haskell unfortunately passed away at the facility late this afternoon.
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. Among the 23 confirmed adenovirus cases, there have been seven pediatric deaths.
Officials say 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.
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.
The Department is working very closely with the facility to ensure all infection control measures are being followed.