Seventh young death hits N.J. med center

TRENTON, N.J. — On Tuesday, a seventh young person died from an adenovirus outbreak at the Wanaque Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation, in Haskell, N.J., about 30 miles northwest of New York. Among the deceased, most were under the age of 18, per the state’s Health Department. Including the deaths, 18 cases have occurred at the center since last month.

“Our attention is focused on making sure that further cases are minimized,” said New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, a Democrat, at a news conference with the state’s health commissioner, Dr. Shereef Elnahal. Health officials said the outbreak won’t be declared over until four weeks pass with no new case.

“It can be difficult or impossible to know how the virus got to the facility, what its source was, or what its specific mechanism of spread is from person to person,” Dr. Elnahal said. “This has been absolutely wrenching.”

Common adenoviruses typically cause mild cold or flu symptoms in otherwise healthy people. But the adenovirus 7 strain with this outbreak can mean more serious respiratory illness, particularly in people with weak immune systems or who have lung conditions.

Many of the children at the facility require ventilators for breathing, and some have spent all or most of their lives there, Dr. Elnahal said. “Because this one occurred where the patients are so fragile and have underlying immune system problems, you’re seeing the severity play out.”

Wanaque president Debbie White said, “As the staff works to contain spread of the virus, they will also continue to advocate for stronger protocols and ... infection control policies.