Officials: 10th child dies in New Jersey adenovirus outbreak

Nov. 1 (UPI) -- New Jersey health officials say another child has died from a severe outbreak of adenovirus, bringing the toll to 10.

The officials said 28 people, nearly all of them children, have been exposed to the adenovirus -- a respiratory illness that causes flu or cold-like symptoms.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the adenovirus can spread from infected persons to others through close contact, through the air by coughing and sneezing and from surfaces that contain the virus.

Officials at the Wanaque Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation in Haskell, N.J., notified the health department of the outbreak on Oct. 9. The children who live at the facility, located about 40 miles northwest of New York City, all suffer from weakened immune systems.

"The loss of these young lives is heartbreaking, and our thoughts are with the families who are affected," New Jersey health commissioner Dr. Shereef Elnahal said in a statement.

"We are working closely with the facility to conduct respiratory illness surveillance and ensure all infection control protocols are continuously followed. We are also engaging in discussions with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on standards for these facilities."

New Jersey health officials said the adenovirus has an incubation period of between two and 14 days, and that later onset is not uncommon. State officials said it will take about four weeks for the outbreak to run its course.

Officials said additional lab test could confirm even more cases.