A highly contagious stomach virus sickened dozens of hikers since mid-May along the popular Pacific Crest Trail, which winds through wilderness east of Burney and cuts west near Dunsmuir, Mount Shasta and Etna.
Health officials and the Pacific Crest Trail Association say the illness was norovirus, a fast-spreading virus that can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and severe dehydration — especially dangerous in remote backcountry settings.
Concentrations of the illness along a stretch of trail near Wrightwood in San Bernardino County prompted health warnings during peak hiking season. While that area is far south of Shasta County, hikers can carry mild cases of the bug up and down California as they move along the trail.
Norovirus forces airlift of Pacific Crest Trail hiker
Reports of illness began in early May and continued to spread among northbound hikers in the weeks since.
At least two dozen hikers reported symptoms along the San Gabriel Mountains stretch of the trail, and medical staff confirmed several cases of norovirus after hikers sought care in nearby communities like Hesperia and Victorville. The impacted section runs through Wrightwood, Cajon Pass, Hesperia and Big Bear, a heavily traveled corridor for long-distance hikers heading toward the Sierra.
Cases were severe enough to require at least one hiker be airlifted for emergency treatment after they became too weak to continue on the trail.
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The Pacific Crest Trail Association said it was aware there were reports of a “gastrointestinal illness in the Wrightwood area” and was working with San Bernardino County public health officials to help sick hikers.
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.
How norovirus can spread among hikers and campers
Norovirus spreads easily through close contact and contaminated food or water, making crowded or sanitation-limited areas — like long-distance trails — particularly vulnerable.
Public health officials said outbreak along the trail could have been caused by the following.
How to avoid norovirus while hiking the PCT and other trails
Even small lapses in hygiene can fuel outbreaks because norovirus is highly contagious and difficult to control in the backcountry, where sanitation is limited, health officials said.
The Pacific Crest Trail Association urged hikers to take precautions to avoid spreading norovirus and other diseases.
Norovirus symptoms hikers should watch for on the PCT
Symptoms of norovirus vary, but typically include the following.
Symptoms usually show you 12 to 48 hours after exposure and last 1-3 days, although 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 public health officials.
Jessica Skropanic is a features reporter for the Record Searchlight/USA Today Network. She covers science, arts, social issues and news stories. Follow her on Twitter @RS_JSkropanic and on Facebook. Join Jessica on Record Searchlight Facebook groups Get Out! Nor Cal, Today in Shasta County and Shaping Redding’s Future. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today. Thank you.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: What hikers and campers should know about PCT norovirus outbreak
Reporting by James Ward, Rene Ray De La Cruz and Jessica Skropanic, USA TODAY NETWORK / Palm Springs Desert Sun
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By James Ward, Rene Ray De La Cruz and Jessica Skropanic, USA TODAY NETWORK | USA TODAY Network
