Popular US hiking trail reports norovirus outbreak


what you should Know

A recent CDC report highlights a norovirus outbreak among hikers on 73 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail in Washington state in 2022.

Despite norovirus being directly detected in environmental samples, investigators believe the outbreak was primarily caused by norovirus.

Norovirus is highly contagious, and prevention is essential for hikers. Alcohol-based sanitizers are ineffective against norovirus, so proper hand washing with soap and water is recommended.

The Pacific Crest Trail is 2653 miles long and runs from the Mexico-US border to the Canada-US border. The states on the path are Washington, Oregon and California and the path passes through 25 national forests and 7 national parks.

In 2022, several cases of acute gastroenteritis (AGE) were reported on the Washington State portion of the Pacific Crest Trail. This was revealed recently in a CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

The Washington State Department of Health initially received reports that Pacific Crest Trail hikers were falling ill with AGE. A later investigation found that 27 hikers became ill. Additional reports revealed that this was happening throughout the 2022 mountaineering season.

mmwr It was reported that a REDCap survey was posted on a Facebook group page for Washington Pacific Crest Trail hikers and displayed (with rapid response codes) at trailhead locations where illness was reported. Survey responses from 27 ill Pacific Crest Trail hikers provided symptoms, locations, and contact details. Of those, 22 hikers reported start dates. Two pedestrians tested positive for norovirus by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

“Twenty (74%) survey respondents reported illness of short duration (median = 2.5 days; 95% CI = 1-15.7 days); Of the 22 (81%) who reported signs and symptoms, the most commonly reported were fatigue (21; 95%) and vomiting and diarrhea (17; 77%), the investigators wrote.

95 percent of survey respondents said they fell ill within 73 miles of Washington, which investigators say suggests environmental exposure.

Next, investigators collected samples from drinking water sources and a cabin and toilet within the area identified as a potential exposure zone.

“Despite norovirus being detected from environmental samples, the symptom profiles, respondent and environmental laboratory results, and epidemiological links all supported the conclusion that the outbreak was primarily caused by norovirus, and within cabin and VIP lavatories “Exposure to contaminated surfaces increased the likelihood of transmission,” the investigators wrote in the report.

Symptoms and prevention

Symptoms of norovirus include vomiting, diarrhea and stomach cramps. There is no cure for this virus and it usually lasts for 1-2 days.

Norovirus is extremely contagious, and prevention is important. mmwr Well-known hikers prefer to use alcohol-based sanitizers and these products do not protect against norovirus. Handwashing using soap is recommended by the CDC, and if hikers are not near a public bathroom, they should use clean water and wash their hands with a bar of soap for 20 seconds, and water. One should stay at least 200 feet away from the source.

Additionally, the Pacific Crest Trail Association asks hikers to protect water quality by not washing utensils or their bodies in water sources.

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