Seven children have died due to an outbreak of adenovirus - viruses that attack soft tissue linings in the respiratory tract, eyes, and nervous system - in New Jersey Medical Center.
The New Jersey Health Department has confirmed on Wednesday, Oct. 24 that the said seven children were among 18 confirmed cases of adenovirus among pediatric patients at the Wanaque Center for Nursing Rehabilitation in Haskell, about 50 kilometers northwest of New York. The remaining 11 children remain ill.
"Unfortunately, the particular strain of adenovirus (7) in this outbreak is affecting medically fragile children with severely compromised immune systems," department spokeswoman Nicole Kirgan said in a statement, as quoted by news.com.au. "The strain has been particularly associated with disease in communal living arrangements and can be more severe."
Adenovirus is a family of viruses that usually target young children with weakened immune systems or existing respiratory or cardiac disease. The said virus can cause a wide range of illnesses such as common cold, sore throat, bronchitis, pneumonia (infection of the lungs), diarrhea, pink eye (conjunctivitis), fever, bladder inflammation or infection, inflammation of stomach and intestines, neurologic disease.
To date, there is no public vaccine for adenoviruses yet. To prevent getting or spreading the viruses, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends washing the hands often, staying home when sick, and avoid touching the mouth or eyes.
Following the incident, the CDC has opened an investigation, and initial reports from investigators indicate the facility's staff had "minor handwashing" procedural deficiencies, as well as improper storage of syringes, failure to disinfect surfaces and syringes properly and the unsanitary storage of oxygen tank tubing in 2016 and 2017.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services gave the Wanaque Center for Nursing Rehabilitation a "below average" performance rating as it failed to ensure infection control practices were followed. The facility has been told not to admit any new patients during the outbreak.
Now, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said in a statement that he was heartbroken over the deaths and had been briefed by the state's health commissioner, Dr. Shereef Elnahal. The New Jersey Health Department is also on site and trying to prevent the virus from spreading further.
"I am confident that the steps being taken by state and local officials will minimize the impact to all those who remain at the facility, including patients and employee," Gov. Phil Murphy said.
