New Jersey health officials confirmed four additional adenovirus cases at Wanaque (N.J.) Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation, bringing the total number of cases up to 23, according to ABC 7.
A spokesperson from the health department indicated all of the individuals were already sick before other cases were confirmed, meaning the virus is not necessarily spreading through the facility. Officials will not declare the outbreak over until the facility goes four weeks without a new case.
"The strain of adenovirus seen in this outbreak is associated with communal living arrangements and known to cause severe illness," the health department said in a statement cited by ABC 7. "The department continues to work very closely with the facility to ensure that all infection control measures are being followed. An outbreak investigation, with assistance from the CDC, is ongoing."
The New Jersey Department of Health learned of the outbreak Oct. 9, and the rehabilitation facility sent letters out warning patients' family members of the outbreak Oct. 19. However, parents of patients reached out to ABC 7 to complain about the facility's lack of transparency. One parent claims a nurse downplayed the situation and told her there was "a little virus going around" the facility.
As of Oct. 25, health officials confirmed seven deaths attributed to the adenovirus outbreak.
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