A 26th child was diagnosed with adenovirus at the Wanaque (N.J.) Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation Oct. 30, prompting New Jersey state officials to take preventative actions at other healthcare facilities so similar breakouts do not occur, according to New Jersey 101.5.
Epidemiologists and members of the New Jersey Department of Health's Infection Control Assessment and Response team are scheduled to visit Newark, N.J.-based University Hospital's neonatal intensive care unit, along with four other pediatric long-term facilities, to assess and train staff on infection control procedures.
"Facility outbreaks are not always preventable, but in response to what we have seen in Wanaque, we are taking aggressive steps to minimize the chance they occur among the most vulnerable patients in New Jersey," Shereef Elnahal, MD, New Jersey's department of health commissioner, told NJ Spotlight. The New Jersey Department of Health confirmed 26 cases and nine pediatric deaths attributed to adenovirus as of Oct. 30 The CDC is also helping in the investigative efforts.
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