A highly contagious stomach virus has sickened dozens of hikers along a popular stretch of the Pacific Crest Trail near Wrightwood, prompting health warnings during peak hiking season.
Health officials and the Pacific Crest Trail Association say the illness is norovirus, a fast-spreading virus that can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and severe dehydration — especially dangerous in remote backcountry settings.
Norovirus outbreak sickens hikers along Pacific Crest Trail near Wrightwood
The Pacific Crest Trail Association says it is aware of reports of a “gastrointestinal illness in the Wrightwood area” and is working with San Bernardino County public health officials.
Where hikers are getting sick on the Pacific Crest Trail in San Bernardino County
The impacted section runs through Wrightwood, Cajon Pass, Hesperia and Big Bear, a heavily traveled corridor for long-distance hikers heading toward the Sierra.
How norovirus is spreading among Pacific Crest Trail hikers
Experts believe the outbreak may be spreading through:
Norovirus spreads easily through close contact and contaminated food or water, making crowded or sanitation-limited areas — like long-distance trails — particularly vulnerable.
How to avoid norovirus while hiking the Pacific Crest Trail
The Pacific Crest Trail Association is urging hikers to take precautions:
Even small lapses in hygiene can fuel outbreaks because norovirus is highly contagious and difficult to control in the backcountry, where sanitation is limited.
Norovirus symptoms hikers should watch for on the PCT
Symptoms typically include:
They usually begin within 12 to 48 hours and last one to three days, though people can remain contagious afterward. Norovirus is the leading cause of vomiting and diarrhea in the United States, causing 19 million to 21 million illnesses annually, according to federal health officials.
Outbreaks on major trails aren’t new. Similar clusters have been reported in recent years on the Appalachian Trail and in Grand Canyon National Park, highlighting how quickly illness can spread among hikers sharing close quarters.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Norovirus outbreak hits Pacific Crest Trail — what hikers need to know
Reporting by James Ward and Rene Ray De La Cruz, USA TODAY NETWORK / Palm Springs Desert Sun
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
