Wanaque Fatal Virus Outbreak Prompts New NJ Law

PASSAIC COUNTY, NJ - In response to last year’s virus outbreak at a Wanaque pediatric facility that led to 11 deaths and 36 illnesses, the state has put new measures into place to prevent similar incidents from occurring at long-term care locations.

On Thursday, Gov. Phil Murphy signed a bill into law requiring long-term care facilities to put infection control plans in place and allow the state Department of Health to mandate the development and submission of those plans.

“Although nearly a year has passed since the tragic outbreak in Wanaque, we have not forgotten about the 11 children who were taken from us far too soon,” Murphy said in a statement. “I am proud to sign legislation today requiring long-term care facilities to have outbreak plans in place to reduce the chances of a similar tragedy from ever happening again.”

The legislation was sponsored by Assembly Members Herb Conaway Jr., D-Burlington, Christopher P. Tully, D-Bergen; and Lisa Swain, D-Bergen, and Sens. Joseph Vitale, D-Middlesex, and Troy Singleton, D-Burlington.

The requirements reflect recommendations delivered in a new state Department of Health report that seeks to improve infection control at all long-term facilities with pediatric and adult ventilator beds.

Acting Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli said, “Breaches in infection control practices are a major contributing factor in the spread of disease in health care facilities. Outbreak response plans help facilities remain aware of the need to contact and work with public health to implement practices to minimize further spread of disease.”

The state also recommends:

• Policies for patient and staff notification;
• Availability of lab testing;
• Protocols to assess if visitors are ill;
• Protocols to identify/exclude sick staff from the facility;
• Separation of sick and well patients at the outset of an outbreak to prevent spread of illness
• More involvement from local health departments when outbreaks occur.

The report also recommends amending state regulations to require long-term care facilities with ventilator beds to implement protocols to ensure that parents and guardians of residents are immediately notified of outbreaks; hire a full-time infection control professional; and have an agreement in place to consult with an infectious disease specialist during an outbreak. In addition, all staff would have to be trained in infection control policies every six months—including protocols for identifying employees and visitors who display signs of illness.

The Wanaque Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation is under state and federal investigation in the wake of last fall’s deadly adenovirus outbreak.

In June, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services added nine New Jersey nursing facilities, including the Wanaque Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation to a list of “Special Focus Facilities" across the country.

The federal agency said in February it found the Wanaque facility wasn’t adequately prepared to react to the virus andfined the facility nearly $600,000 for several violations.

Its report cited factors including poor infection controls, a lack of administrative oversight and delays in seeking treatment of sick pediatric patients.

Adenovirus type 7, which is the strain that infected patients in Wanaque, causes a mild cold or flu symptoms and usually poses little risk for healthy people but can have a severe outcome especially in people with weakened immune systems, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.