Nine pediatric patients at Wanaque (N.J.) Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation are dead amid an ongoing adenovirus outbreak, according to CNN.
Here are six things to know:
1. The ninth child died the night of Oct. 27. The state health department is also awaiting laboratory confirmation of adenovirus in a child who died Oct. 26.
2. So far, there have been 25 confirmed pediatric adenovirus cases linked to the outbreak, which occurred between Sep. 26 and Oct. 22.
3. The New Jersey Department of Health instructed Wanaque Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation to not admit any new patient until the outbreak ends. On Oct. 22, the health department announced the first six pediatric deaths, and Oct. 24, it announced the seventh pediatric death.
4. The department is conducting an active outbreak investigation and said additional cases could be confirmed. Investigators on Oct. 28 identified some minor hand-washing deficiencies at the rehabilitation center.
"The Wanaque Center continues to fully cooperate with these agencies and has sought out their medical guidance with respect to the virus," the facility told CNN. "As a result, facility staff have diligently implemented all available infection control and prevention measures in order to protect the health and safety of the Wanaque Center's residents."
5. In patients with weakened immune systems, adenovirus can cause pneumonia or brain inflammation. The virus is known to live on unclean surfaces and medical instruments and may not be completely killed by common disinfectants.
6. Wanaque Center nurses said there is a shortage of nursing staff and supplies at the facility, which may have contributed to "poor infection control practices," according to a statement from the union representing the nurses cited by CNN. The Health Professionals and Allied Employees Local 5107 represents 70 percent of nurses at Wanaque.
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