[ad_1]
TRENTON, NJ – Health officials in New Jersey announced Monday that they are sending infection control teams to four long-term pediatric centers and a hospital to help them learn about epidemics viral and bacterial that cost the lives of 10 people.
The teams will evaluate infection prevention practices and deploy them from November, said Dr Shereef Elnahal, European Commissioner for Health.
This response occurred amidst a deadly epidemic of adenovirus at the Wanaque Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation that killed 10 people, most of them under 18 years old. A premature baby died after the discovery of a bacterial infection at Newark University Hospital this month, health officials said.
"Epidemics in institutions are not always preventable, but in response to what we've seen in Wanaque, we are taking aggressive action to minimize the risk of occurrence among New Jersey's most vulnerable patients," Elnahal said. a statement.
Those affected in Wanaque center have ages ranging from toddlers to young adults.
The adenovirus usually poses little risk to healthy people and usually causes mild symptoms of colds or flu. Some strains also cause diarrhea and pinkeye.
The strain found in the rehabilitation center focus – type 7 – is among the most powerful types and sometimes causes more serious respiratory diseases, especially in people with weakened immune systems.
The first symptoms appeared on September 26 and the state was informed of an outbreak on October 9, officials said.
The for-profit facility of 227 beds has a pediatric center and also supports elderly residents.
No new residents are admitted for the duration of the epidemic, which will only be declared when the center can spend four weeks without any new cases.
At the hospital, the state health department announced that it has found four cases of Acinetobacter baumannii since 1 October. The baby was carrying the bacteria and was transferred to another facility where he died.
The ministry said the exact cause of death was the subject of an investigation. There were aggravating medical conditions.
The bacteria can cause pneumonia or serious infections of the blood or sores.
These cases are not related to the virus in central Wanaque, said the health department.
___
The story has been updated to correct the name of the commissioner named Shereef, instead of Shereer.
Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, disseminated, rewritten or redistributed.
[ad_2]
Source link