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HACKENSACK, NJ – Wanaque, NJ, HACKENSACK, NJ – A day after Wanaque, New Jersey officials were asked about the issue em.
Wanaque Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation Wanaque Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation Wanaque Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation said they were not informed of the severity of the outbreak. The 18 affected patients, including the seven who died, were all children, the Health Department said.
Kristine Deleg, whose 16-year-old daughter, Elizabeth Poulous, died Tuesday morning after being stricken with the adenovirus, said Wednesday that there was a heavy lag in communication.
Deleg said Elizabeth was admitted to St. Joseph's University Medical Center in Paterson on Oct. 3, but it was not told about the adenovirus outbreak until it received a letter from the facility on Monday, nearly three weeks later. Elizabeth died the next day.
"There was definitely a breakdown in communication," Deleg said. "When you're dealing with this type of situation, and you're dealing with these children that are so fragile, that's something you have to do right away."
Gov. Phil Murphy, speaking on Wednesday afternoon, said, "We clearly need to understand the communication here."
Rosemarie McPartland of Bergenfield asked Murphy, who was patient at the facility for 31 years, would be OK. The two had a private conversation, but McPartland said afterward that she was still not satisfied with the way.
She said she was going to be notified by the center's staff about the outbreak. "I'm concerned about the kids with no voices," McPartland said. "I'm here to talk for the kids with no voice."
Rowena Bautista, the facility's administrator, commented on Wednesday. Staff members at the facility referred to Braithwaite Communications, a Philadelphia-based marketing agency whose services include crisis communication. The company did not respond to calls or emails.
The facility is owned by a private corporation, Wanaque Nursing & Rehabilitation, which is managed by Daniel Bruckstein and Eugene Ehrenfeld. The two are listed as officers in seven other care facilities across New Jersey. Neither could be reached for how.
The facility has been admitted to the hospital by the department.
The state health commissioner, Dr. Shereef Elnahal, said the facility could not be closed, because many patients are suffering from neuromuscular disorders, caused by genetic syndromes, accidents at birth or abuse .
Adenoviruses are common viruses that affect the airways, intestines, eyes and are responsible for some colds, coughs, thyroids, pinkeye and diarrhea. Usually they are mild, but they can be deadly for people with weakened immune systems.
It may be "impossible or difficult to know" how the virus got to the facility, Elnahal said at the news conference.
The first case of a patient with adenovirus was noted on Sept. 26, Elnahal said. The Health Department was notified of respiratory illnesses at the center, in the Haskell section of the borough, on Oct. 9, after the office closed for the day. Health officials began monitoring work at the facility next morning.
State officials did not give specific dates for the victims for the victim, who died Tuesday night.
Health officials conducted a surprise inspection over the weekend, during which they found "minor hand-washing deficiencies," the Health Department said in a statement.
The facility has been cited by government inspectors.
Elnahal said it was rare that any facility would emerge from an inspection with no quotations and said that the Wanaque Center received in 2018 were "low-level."
Two unions that represent nurses and other health care workers at the for-profit facility.
"Since the last time we have been working at Wanaque Center in 2014," said Ron McCalla, vice president of 1199SEIU. workers at the facility.
State Sen. Gerry Cardinale, Assemblywoman Holly Schepisi and Assemblyman Robert Auth, who represent the area where the facility is located, said states officials need to ensure that something happens again.
"This deadly viral outbreak is clearly a preventable tragedy, and state officials must take immediate action to deliver justice to the family," the three Republicans said in a statement .
The outbreak, which holds patients who need mechanical support to breathe, Elnahal said.
As of Wednesday, the Wanaque Center had 49 children in the ventilator unit, which is licensed for 72 children, said Donna Leusner, a spokeswoman of the Health Department. An additional 20 beds are available for older children in another area, she said.
The Wanaque Center is licensed to play 135 adults and 92 children.
Matthew, who suffered a brain injury in a car crash on the road when he was a toddler.
"I feel terrible that this happening," McPartland said. "I love the staff, but something is wrong today."
Ringwood Avenue near a Route 287 exit.
Those who live or work within the family. "It's a shame," said Mike Borer of Westwood, who was interviewed on a strip mall on Ringwood Avenue near the center. "They're just starting their lives."
(Staff writers Steve Janoski, Joshua Jongsma, Dustin Racioppi, James Nash and Keldy Ortiz contributed to this article.)
© 2018 The Record (Hackensack, N.J.)
GRAPHIC (for help with images, contact 312-222-4194): 20181024 Adenovirus
Copyright 2018 Tribune Content Agency.
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