Editor's note: Do you have a family member on the pediatric unit at the Wanaque Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation, or a child who has been affected by the viral outbreak there? NJ.com would like to hear from you. You may reach us at (732) 902-4559, or write to Susan Livio at slivio@njadvancemedia.com, Spencer Kent at skent@njadvancemedia.com, or Ted Sherman at tsherman@njadvancemedia.com.

The facility where 34 children have been infected amid a viral outbreak has met a state deadline to separate "medically-fragile" kids from those who are sick, nearly two months after the first child was infected. Eleven children have died.

The Wanaque Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation is dealing with an outbreak of the adenovirus, a respiratory illness that causes flu or cold-like symptoms, but can be far more harmful to those who are medically fragile.

At least 34 children have been exposed to the virus since the outbreak began in late September, Health Commissioner Shereef Elnahal said.

Dorcase Dolcin, 4, was among the first to die on Oct. 8.

Wanaque officials were directed by the Department of Health to separate patients by Nov. 21, but met the requirement four days earlier. In doing so, a call for volunteers from the state Medical Reserve Corps has been rescinded, the department said in a statement Saturday.

"The Department placed these requirements on the facility to ensure a safer environment for these immunocompromised children," Elnahal said in a statement. "We have determined that separating ill patients from asymptomatic residents is among the most important measures to prevent further spread of the virus."

The facility said it was previously unable to split up residents due to the lack of space.

Starting Monday, the Wanaque Center will also be required to hire a certified infection control practitioner and a state-approved physician with board certification in infectious disease, the department said.

Readmissions to the facility will also be reassessed on Monday as these consultants begin working.

The ongoing adenovirus outbreak at the Wanaque Center began when kids first started getting sick on Sept. 26, according to the state health department, when the first child was diagnosed with a respiratory ailment.

But it would not be until two children were already dead that the Wanaque Center notified local health department officials on Oct. 9 of a cluster of respiratory illnesses.

The state did not send inspectors there until Oct. 21.

Staff writer Ted Sherman contributed to this report.

Sophie Nieto-Munoz may be reached at snietomunoz@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her at @snietomunoz. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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