Mom Of Child Who Died At Wanaque Facility Wants Answers



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PASSAIC COUNTY, NJ – The mother of one of the seven children who died after contracting the adenovirus at Wanaque rehabilitation facility wants answers.

Kristine Deleg's Daughter Elizabeth died Tuesday after contracting the virus, NorthJersey.com reported. According to the report, the Wanauqe Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing did not inform her about the outbreak until Monday, nearly three weeks after Elizabeth was admitted to St. Joseph's University Medical Center in Paterson.

Four children who have been diagnosed with adenovirus at the facility have been moved to a hospital to ensure they receive proper medical care, state health officials and Gov. Phil Murphy announced Wednesday.

The parent of a boy living at home said her 1-year-old was living in unsanitary conditions for months, NJ.com reported.

The parent said in the report that the conditions are "very dirty" and that the rooms are "full of ants."

Haskell and Pbadaic County, a rehabilitation facility. (See related article: Outbreaks At NJ Facility)

All of those infected are located in the respiratory ward of the facility and are connected to ventilators to help them breathe. The seventh child died Monday night.

The majority of these infections are under 18. The majority of these infections have been reported by the State Health Commissioner Dr. Shereef Elnahal.

There is "no immediate threat to the public" regarding the virus spreading to the rest of the populace, the governor said.

The first case of the virus was discovered on Sept. 26. The Department of Health was notified of the virus on Oct. 9. The state began monitoring the situation Oct. 10. State health officials conducted a surprise inspection at the facility last weekend. State staff will remain at the facility until the outbreak is over.

"The strain of adenovirus seen in this disease is badociated with common living arrangements and known to cause severe illness," said Donna Leusner, a spokeswoman for the health department. "The outbreak is continuing with the badistance of the CDC, is ongoing." (See related: 10 Things About The Adenovirus Outbreak That's Killed 7 NJ Kids)

Murphy said that he was "heartbroken" by the news and that he was praying for the full recovery of the other children. He said the Department of Health has recommended measures to enhance protection against further infection, and will continue its active surveillance on-site monitoring. who remain at the facility, including patients and employees, "he said.

The facility has been instructed to admit patients to the outbreak and the Wanaque Center is in full compliance with medically appropriate standards, officials said.

The Wanaque Center is a professional nursing home, rehabilitation center and pediatrics center that offers short-and-long care in a secure and caring environment, according to its website.

The Wanaque Center says it has a "highly skilled" team of experts who work with medically fragile children in their pediatrics center. "Our dedicated staff embraces children from newborn to 22 years of age and individualizes each child's program to maximize their capabilities," according to the site.

A health department team, meanwhile, was at the facility Sunday and Sunday. The team is on the deficiencies and the health department is continuing to work with the facility.

This is an ongoing outbreak investigation, health officials said.

Administrator Rowena Bautista issued a statement on Tuesday, acknowledging that the Wanaque Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation has recently experienced some cases of adenovirus in its respiratory unit.

The New Zealand Department of Health, The Pbadaic County Department of Health, The Communicable Disease Service and the Centers for Disease Control, The Wanaque Center. These agencies have sought to ensure that they have access to health care services and services as a whole.

Adenoviruses are typical of a family of viruses that cause mild illness, particularly in young children. But this particular strain of adenovirus (# 7) is affected medically fragile with severely compromised immune systems, according to Leusner.

"The combination of a severe strain of adenovirus together with a fragile population," she said.

Inspectors from the Department of Health were also at the facility on Monday. Leusner Said, Providing Guidance on Infection Control and Cleaning Procedures.

Adenoviruses can cause a wide range of illnesses such as:

  • Common cold
  • Sore throat
  • Bronchitis (a condition that occurs when the airways in the lungs become filled with mucus and may spasm, which causes a person to cough and have shortness of breath)
  • Pneumonia (infection of the lungs)
  • diarrhea
  • Pink eye (conjunctivitis)
  • Fever
  • Bladder inflammation or infection
  • Inflammation of stomach and intestines
  • Neurologic disease (conditions that affect the brain and spinal cord)

Adenoviruses can cause mild to severe illness, though serious illness is less common. People with weakened immune systems, or other respiratory or cardiac diseases, are at higher risk of developing severe illness from an adenovirus infection, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

How the virus is spread through the center is unknown.

At the center, New Jersey-certified teachers are hired to provide a clbadroom setting for children from preschool through high school. The school curriculum and clbadroom mirror of a state-run public school within the confines of the Wanaque Center.

The clbadrooms are accessible and set up for ventilator use. Each clbadroom offers highly individualized attention as each child progresses from preschool through elementary, middle and high school, according to the website.


With reporting by Tom Davis

Email: [email protected]

Image via Shutterstock

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