Approximately a dozen hikers have reportedly fallen victim to a severe stomach illness while traversing a section of the picturesque Pacific Crest Trail.
This renowned hiking route stretches over 2,600 miles, linking Mexico to Canada via California, Oregon, and Washington.
The Pacific Crest Trail Association has confirmed reports of gastrointestinal illnesses emerging in the Wrightwood region. In an Instagram update on Thursday, the association announced their collaboration with the San Bernardino County Department of Public Health to assess the situation.
“Illnesses like norovirus and other communicable diseases pose serious health risks, and individuals should prioritize their well-being and safety,” stated Chris Rylee, the director of communications, in a statement to SFGATE. “We hope all affected hikers recover swiftly and can soon return to enjoying the trail.”
A Reddit forum dedicated to the Pacific Crest Trail has reported an “outbreak” of norovirus, a highly contagious virus known for causing sudden, intense bouts of vomiting and diarrhea.
In the past two weeks, there have been between seven and twelve confirmed cases in the vicinity of Wrightwood, with one hiker requiring an airlift to a hospital for urgent medical care, as noted in the Reddit post.
“Since Sunday, there have been approximately 2 dozen hikers who’ve had symptoms and 7 who were seen and diagnosed with Noro by medical professionals,” the post read.
The first cases of the virus started popping up the around May 8, according to SFGATE.
When 73-year-old Ron Hals settled into his camp in the Wrightwood area on the night of May 14, he told the paper that he has “never been that weak” and was so ill that he struggled to even leave his tent.
Hals, who planning to hike the first 1,000 miles of the trail as a personal challenge after his wife died, called 911 and was ultimately airlifted out to receive further medical attention.
“My emotions were very much on the surface, and I admit that I cried because I didn’t want to go,” Hals, who was later diagnosed with norovirus, told the paper. “But I knew that these people had risked their lives to come find me, and I couldn’t just tell them to go away.”
While its unclear how the outbreak started, some cases appeared to have originated near a water cache in Swarthout Valley between Cajon Pass and Mount Baden-Powell, according to the outlet.
The Reddit page urged hikers to practice good hygiene to avoid catching the virus, including washing hands and drinking from sealed water bottles.
“Norovirus can survive for weeks on surfaces and objects, such as countertops, doorknobs, phones, and furniture, or any items that may have been in contact with vomit, diarrhea, or unwashed hands of someone sick with norovirus,” according to the California Department of Public Health.
There are approximately 109,000 hospitalizations every year in the US from the norovirus, and roughly 900 deaths — mostly among older adults, according CDPH.
Norovirus outbreaks in remote regions is not uncommon, and according to SFGATE a 2022 more than 200 hikers came down with the bug in the Grand Canyon National Park.
“Norovirus is like the cockroach of viruses,” Noelle Harrison, a retired public health educator and hiker told the paper. “It’s almost impossible to kill, and if you end up getting sick in really remote areas, some of its more severe symptoms can put you in a really bad place.”
Thousands of outdoorsmen make the trek through the Pacific Coast Trail each year, according to association’s website.
