What Is Adenovirus? New Jersey Outbreak Kills 6 Children, Another 12 Infected

A viral illness outbreak killed six children and infected 12 others at a medical facility in New Jersey, state health officials confirmed Tuesday as investigation was underway. Eighteen cases of adenovirus were confirmed among pediatric patients at the Wanaque Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation in Haskell.

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said in a statement Tuesday that state and local health officials were working to contain the outbreak caused by the virus, which was usually mild but in this case severe as it was affecting medically fragile children with severely compromised immune systems.

“I am heartbroken by the news that several children have lost their lives in an adenovirus outbreak at the Wanaque Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation, and pray for the full recovery of the other children impacted,” Murphy said. “I have been briefed by [Commissioner of Health] Dr. Elnahal, who has assured me that the Department of Health has recommended vital measures to enhance protections against the further spread of infection and will continue its active on-site surveillance.”

The state's health department said the facility has been instructed to not admit any new patients until the outbreak ends.

"This strain has been particularly associated with disease in communal living facilities," the department 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 health department sent a team to Wanaque facility for inspection on Sunday, and again Tuesday. The department had reportedly been notified by the 227-bed facility of cases of respiratory illness on Oct. 9.

Wanaque Administrator Rowena Bautista said in a statement to TIME that the facility was cooperating with authorities to stop the spread of disease.

“The facility promptly notified all appropriate government agencies when the virus was initially identified, including the New Jersey Department of Health, the Passaic County Department of Health, the Communicable Disease Service and the Centers for Disease Control,” the statement said. “The Wanaque Center continues to fully cooperate with these agencies and has sought out their medical guidance with respect to the virus. 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.”

What is adenovirus?

The various strains of adenovirus can cause a variety of illnesses, ranging from common colds to neurologic conditions, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Adenovirus 7, the strain health officials said, was behind the New Jersey outbreak, and was commonly associated with respiratory diseases. The variety of illness linked to the adenoviruses include sore throat, bronchitis, pneumonia, diarrhea, pink eye, fever, bladder infection or inflammation of the stomach.

The viruses can be spread through close personal contact, coughing and sneezing or touching contaminated objects.