Wanaque Center outbreak: Another child dies in virus, Report.
A child patient with respiratory illness at the Wanaque Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation in Haskell died Saturday, bringing the total deaths among facility residents to nine.
It is the latest death of an individual who had a confirmed case of adenovirus and had become ill before Oct. 22.
A total of 25 pediatric cases have been associated with the outbreak. An adult staff member also was infected, and that person has since recovered.
Eight deaths at the facility have been confirmed as adenovirus-related. Another death Friday of a medically frail resident has not been confirmed by laboratory results as being linked to the illness.
The Wanaque Center established a 24/7 hotline that offers grief counseling for affected families.
Adenovirus is a respiratory virus that can causes mild or serious illness. Symptoms include the common cold, sore throat, bronchitis, pneumonia, diarrhea, pink eye, and fever and bladder infections.
Officials say the outbreak occurred between Sept. 26 and Oct. 22.
The Department of Health’s Communicable Disease service remains on site to monitor the outbreak. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is also there helping with lab testing and other expertise.
The facility is still not admitting any new patients and won’t until the outbreak is over.
