Ninth Death Reported at New Jersey Pediatric Center in Virus Epidemic

TRENTON, N.J. – A ninth person died in a pediatric rehabilitation center amid an epidemic of respiratory viruses, New Jersey health officials said.

Another "fragile medical child" who had a confirmed case of adenovirus at the Wanaque Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation died Saturday night, the state health department said.

The adenovirus has not been confirmed in another person who died Friday afternoon, officials said. A staff member also became ill. The new diagnoses bring the total number of cases to 25.

The people affected are from the youngest to the youngest, the vast majority of them under the age of 18.

The adenovirus usually poses little risk to healthy people and usually causes mild symptoms of colds or flu. Some strains also cause diarrhea and conjunctivitis.

The strain found during the outbreak of a rehabilitation center is among the most powerful types and sometimes causes more serious respiratory illnesses, 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, closed to new patients, has a pediatric center and also supports elderly residents.

No new residents are admitted during the duration of the epidemic, which will not be declared over until four weeks later, the center will not be able to do without new cases.