Several news outlets have reported that, as of November 1, 2018, a 10th child has died as a result of an adenovirus outbreak at The Wanaque Center for Nursing & Rehabilitation (“Wanaque Center”), bringing the total number of viral cases at the facility to 28. The facility is located in Haskell, Passaic County, New Jersey.[1]
According to nj.com, “the state Senate is planning a hearing to look into what factors may have contributed to the deadly viral outbreak” at the facility.[2] Health department officials say they intend to launch a team of infection control experts and epidemiologists this month to investigate the Wanaque center and to “conduct training and assessments of infection control procedures.”[3] According to the news outlet, the affected individuals fell ill between September 26th and October 30th and ranged in age from toddlers to teenagers.[4]
A worker at the Wanaque Center described the conditions as filthy and attributed the cause of the outbreak to pervasive mismanagement leading to contamination. The worker said that “either the equipment is rusty or malfunctioning.”[5]
The adenovirus typically causes common cold symptoms that can range from mild to severe, and the Centers for Disease Control (“CDC”) warns that “people with weakened immune systems, or existing respiratory or cardiac disease, are at higher risk of developing severe illness from an adenovirus infection.”[6]
If you have been affected by the adenovirus while a patient of a health care facility, or a loved one has died as a result of the adenovirus contracted while in a facility, you may be eligible to recover damages.
Paul M. da Costa, Esq. is a proven litigator who has successfully handled similar types of cases. In fact, he is currently representing one of the affected children of the adenovirus outbreak and his family.
If you or a loved one has suffered adverse health complications or injuries you believe a result of the adenovirus while in a health care facility, please contact Paul M. da Costa, Esq. at Sarno da Costa D’Aniello Maceri LLC. Call him today at 973-274-5200.
[1] 10th child dies in viral outbreak at New Jersey rehab center, https://abc7ny.com/health/10th-child-dies-in-viral-outbreak-at-nj-rehab-center/4542019/
[2] Legislature to look into viral outbreak that led to 10 deaths at N.J. pediatric facility, https://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2018/11/legislature_to_look_into_viral_outbreak_that_led_t.html
[3] Id.
[4] Id.
[5] Worker blames filthy conditions, mismanagement in deadly viral outbreak at N.J. facility, https://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2018/10/could_the_deadly_nj_viral_outbreak_have_been_preve.html
[6] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, https://www.cdc.gov/adenovirus/about/symptoms.html
