Six Children Dead in ‘Severe’ Virus Outbreak in New Jersey Facility

Six children are dead and 12 others are sick after a “severe” viral outbreak of adenovirus spread at a New Jersey rehabilitation facility, local news station WPIX reports. The state’s Department of Health said a particular strain of adenovirus affected the pediatric residents’ “severely compromised immune systems.” “The combination of a worse strain of adenovirus together with a fragile population has led to a more severe outbreak,” the department said. The department also reportedly visited the facility on Sunday to find only “‘minor hand washing deficiencies.” The center, which houses pediatric and nursing home patients for “short- and long-term care,” was reportedly instructed not to take in any new patients. According to the CDC, adenovirus is a family of “common viruses that cause a range of illness,” and has symptoms like sore throat, bronchitis, pneumonia, and others.