State: Care center where 11 kids died can resume admissions

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) - A New Jersey nursing home where 11 children died following a viral outbreak last year can now resume admitting pediatric ventilator patients.

An admissions ban imposed by state health officials more than four months ago was lifted Wednesday. The decision came after they approved the Wanaque Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation's plans to control an infectious-disease outbreak if another one occurs.

There are 62 children at the facility in Haskell, which is licensed to provide care to 92 ventilator-dependent children and 135 adults.

A federal report stated the outbreak that occurred last October and November was made worse because those in charge didn't plan for such an outbreak and didn't react fast enough. The center strongly disputes the report and is appealing.

One staff member and 36 children were ultimately diagnosed with a particularly severe strain of adenovirus.