The adenovirus outbreak at Wanaque (N.J.) Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation killed a seventh child, New Jersey Department of Health officials confirmed Oct. 24, according to CBS News.
The news comes just one day after health officials announced six other deaths linked to the outbreak in the past two weeks. There are now 18 confirmed adenovirus cases.
The rehabilitation center notified the health department of respiratory illnesses at the facility Oct. 9 and sent letters to patients' parents, notifying them about the infections Oct. 19, according to CNN.
"The department continues to work very closely with the facility to ensure that all infection control measures are being followed," Donna Leusner, the health department's communications director, told CBS News. "An outbreak investigation, with assistance from the CDC, is ongoing."
The exact cause of the outbreak is still unknown, although the Wanaque Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation cares for pediatric patients with various medical conditions that make them more susceptible to serious infections.
"Unfortunately, the particular strain of adenovirus in this outbreak is affecting medically fragile children with severely compromised immune systems," the New Jersey Health Department said in an Oct. 23 statement. "The strain has been particularly associated with disease in communal living arrangements and can be more severe."
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