Children were recently infected at the Wananque Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation in Passaic County, New Jersey. The health center went on to report that ten children have died and that twelve are currently infected. At first, officials were unsure of what the virus was.

The New Jersey Department of Health later revealed that the virus that infected the children was an adenovirus. Some of the symptoms for this virus are common cold, pneumonia, diarrhea, pink eye, fever, and bladder inflammation. When these symptoms arise in a patient, it is typically a reliable indicator that the patient has contracted an adenovirus.

Depending on the person, an adenovirus affects them differently – specifically through their immune systems. Some who come into contact with the virus will not present severe reactions to adenovirus and will have minimal risk. However, others can negatively react to the virus, which increases the risk of serious – even deadly – consequences. For some, as seen with the children who died, adenovirus can definitely be fatal. An individual can survive with an adenovirus from anywhere to a couple of days to a whole month, depending on their initial reaction to the virus. There isn’t a cure for this virus, yet those who do get infected with this virus can rely on medications and rest to survive for a prolonged period of time.

This virus is highly contagious and is most commonly transferred within schools, hospitals, and other public places with a large concentration of children, as well as adults. Adults are also susceptible to contracting this virus, due to the fact that it is easily spread by sneezing, coughing, or general contact with someone who has the virus.

Those that get an adenovirus may have to be incubated, in order to prevent the disease from spreading to other people. As seen within the New Jersey health center, six children originally died, and four more children died soon after showing symptoms of an adenovirus, bringing the total fatality count to ten.

The children that are currently infected are being incubated under the supervision of doctors. The doctors are doing everything in their power to try to ensure that the children fully recover and are contacting experts for additional assistance.