Adenovirus outbreak kills 9th child in NJ

A ninth child has died of respiratory illness at the Wanaque Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation in Wanaque, New Jersey, the state’s Department of Health announced Sunday.

The latest victim was someone who had a confirmed case of adenovirus and fell ill before Oct. 22.

There have been 25 pediatric cases associated with the outbreak. A staff member also was ill but has recovered, according to the health department.

Of those 25 pediatric cases, eight of the deaths were in children with confirmed adenovirus. The Department of Health does not have laboratory confirmation of adenovirus for the child who died Friday afternoon.

Health Commissioner Shereef Elnahal called the situation “tragic” in a news release and said the department was “working every day to ensure all infection control protocols are continuously followed and closely monitoring the situation at the facility.”

So far, all of the people associated with the outbreak became ill between Sept. 26 and Oct. 22.

Children in the facility’s pediatric ventilator unit had severely compromised immune systems before the outbreak began. Lab tests could confirm additional cases, the health department said.

The type of adenovirus virus involved in this outbreak is associated with communal living arrangements and is known to cause severe illness – especially in those with compromised immune systems. Adenoviruses are common viruses that affect the lining of the airways, intestines, eyes or urinary tract and are responsible for some colds, coughs, sore throats, pinkeye and diarrhea. Usually the illnesses are mild, but they can be deadly for people with weakened immune systems.