PO Box 360
Trenton, NJ 08625-0360

For Release:
November 5, 2018

Shereef Elnahal
Commissioner

For Further Information Contact:
Office of Communications
(609) 984-7160

Total of 5 Adenovirus Cases Confirmed at Voorhees Pediatric Facility

Laboratory tests have confirmed another case of adenovirus among pediatric patients as part of an ongoing outbreak investigation at the Voorhees Pediatric Facility. While identification of the exact strain of this adenovirus case will not be available for several days, Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) testing has identified that the adenovirus strain of the first four cases at Voorhees as Type 3. This is a different strain from the one that caused a severe outbreak at the Wanaque Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation. Adenovirus Type 3 is typically associated with a milder illness than the Type 7 identified at Wanaque, however it is still sometimes associated with severe illness and even death.

 

 

“The Department and local health partners have been working with the facility to provide infection control recommendations and identify other possible illnesses since the facility notified the Department of a case of adenovirus in a resident on October 26,” said New Jersey Health Commissioner Dr. Shereef Elnahal. 

Dates of illness onset range between Oct. 20 and 29.

 

The outbreak investigation at Voorhees is ongoing, and lab tests could confirm additional cases. When the Department receives additional test results, we will provide an update.

 

Adenovirus is a respiratory virus which can cause mild or serious illness, though serious illness is less common. Symptoms may include common cold, sore throat, bronchitis, pneumonia, diarrhea, pink eye, fever, bladder inflammation or infection, inflammation of the stomach and intestines and neurological disease.

 

Adenovirus has an incubation period of 2-14 days, meaning that symptoms typically appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus.  

 

The facility has the capacity to safely and swiftly separate sick, exposed and well individuals into different areas. They implemented infection control measures such as cleaning and disinfecting environmental surfaces, and reinforcing appropriate handwashing techniques. The facility is also providing daily updates to public health officials regarding illnesses in the facility.

 

On Oct. 24, the facility sent out a general notification to all families who had children in the Voorhees facility about the Wanaque outbreak. Another letter, issued on Oct. 31, notified families of the outbreak at Voorhees and the prevention measures being taken. The facility said it will notify parents of any changes in the status of their children.

 

Two inspectors with the Department’s Division of Health Facility Survey and Field Operations were at the facility on Oct. 30. Preliminary findings revealed no infection control issues, and no citations were issued.   

 

A Department of Health team of infection control experts and epidemiologists are visiting University Hospital and four pediatric long-term care facilities — including Voorhees— this month to conduct training and assessments of infection control procedures, Commissioner Elnahal announced last week. The team so far visited the Wanaque Center on Nov. 1 and University Hospital on Nov. 2.

 

Click here for Frequently Asked Questions about adenovirus.

 

Follow New Jersey Health Commissioner Elnahal on Twitter.

Follow the New Jersey Department of Health on Twitter @njdeptofhealth, Facebook /njdeptofhealth, Instagram @njdeptofhealth and Snapchat @njdoh.

 

 

 

Last Reviewed: 11/6/2018