A severe outbreak of a dangerous virus has killed six children and infected a dozen more at a medical facility in New Jersey, according to the state's health department on Tuesday.
"Unfortunately, the particular strain of adenovirus (#7) in this outbreak is affecting medically fragile children with severely compromised immune systems," the New Jersey Department of Health said in a statement. "The combination of a worse strain of adenovirus together with a fragile population has led to a more severe outbreak."
The Department of Health confirmed that the Wanaque Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation in Haskell, New Jersey had 18 total cases of adenovirus. WABC reported that the adenovirus typically only causes mild illness but, as the Department of Health noted, the patients at the facility were fragile children with weakened immune systems.
"The facility has been instructed not to admit any new patients until the outbreak ends and they are in full compliance," the Department of Health said in the statement on Tuesday. "A Department team is at the facility today and an inspection team was also there Sunday. The team on Sunday found minor handwashing deficiencies and the Health Department is continuing to work closely with the facility on infection control issues."
This story is developing and will be updated as necessary...
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