Adenovirus epidemic: the eleventh child dies of a viral illness transmitted to the Wanaque Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, New Jersey

TRENTON, N.J. – Health officials say that an eleventh patient died in the middle of an outbreak of a respiratory virus in a care facility in New Jersey. The state health department confirmed Friday that "the seriously ill child" of the Wanaque Nursing and Rehabilitation Center had adenovirus infection. The youth died Thursday night in a hospital, but no details about the child was revealed.

The department said the child was among the 34 pediatric cases associated with the outbreak.

Authorities say the affected children became ill between September 26 and November 12. All had an immune system severely compromised because of other health problems. Another case of positive adenovirus was confirmed Thursday night. A staff member was also confirmed with the virus, but has since recovered.

New Jersey Advance Media reporter Susan Livio investigated the outbreak and told CBS News that two staff members she spoke to worried about working conditions and management of the company. # 39; establishment. The workers, who asked to remain anonymous, said the center lacked staff to save money and that this delayed the transfer of sick children to the hospital.

"The workers claim that there is a policy to keep the beds full for as long as possible, because as soon as the children leave the premises, the facility loses its funding of Medicaid, which represents $ 519 per day. [per patient]"Said Livio.

The state commissioner for health said that moving children to other care facilities was not a viable option, Livio explained.

"These are children born with birth defects, who have used technology to help them eat and breathe – very vulnerable children," she said. "They just had to contain the infection and make it work."

Sanitary inspectors said they found that the staff washed their hands lax could have helped spread infections.

What is the adenovirus?

Adenoviruses are a family of viruses that account for about 5 to 10% of fevers in young children. A person can be infected with an adenovirus at any age and cause various diseases, ranging from mild to severe.

Most people with adenovirus recover after a few days, but people with weakened immune systems or existing respiratory or cardiac disease are at higher risk of developing serious complications due to infection. The children of the Wanaque Center are severely disabled, which explains how the epidemic became deadly.

According to the New Jersey Department of Health, the particular strain of adenovirus (No. 7) involved in the outbreak has been associated with the disease in community living conditions and may be more serious.

The adenovirus can cause a variety of symptoms ranging from mild to life-threatening, including:

• Cold
• Irritated throat
• Bronchitis
• Pneumonia
• Diarrhea
• Pink eye
• Fever
• Inflammation or bladder infection
• Inflammation of the stomach and intestines
• Neurological disease

The virus is transmitted from one infected person to another through close personal contact, for example by touching or shaking hands; cough or sneeze or touching an object or contaminated surface, then touching your mouth, nose or eyes. The infection can also be spread by contact with the stools of an infected person, especially when changing diapers.

Currently, no adenovirus vaccine is available to the general public in the United States. A vaccine for type 4 and 7 adenoviruses was approved in March 2011, but only for US military personnel who may be more likely to be infected with these viruses.

Simple steps to protect yourself and your family from adenovirus and other respiratory infections include:

• Avoid close contact with sick people

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.