Norovirus sickens dozens on PCT

Pacific Crest Trail hikers near Wrightwood, California, reported a norovirus outbreak on May 20 and May 21 after dozens of people fell ill along a stretch of trail northeast of Los Angeles. Newsweek, citing local reporting, said reports of illness began surfacing around May 8 and that roughly two dozen hikers had reported symptoms, with at least seven cases confirmed by medical professionals after hikers sought treatment in nearby towns. One hiker was air-rescued after becoming too sick to continue, according to the reports. Early accounts pointed to a shared water cache in the Wrightwood area as a possible source, though the source had not been confirmed. ### Where on the trail are hikers getting sick? Wrightwood, in the San Gabriel Mountains of San Bernardino County, was the center of the reports. Newsweek said the suspected exposure area was a shared water cache in Swarthout Valley, between Cajon Pass and Mount Baden-Powell, on the Pacific Crest Trail. The Pacific Crest Trail runs about 2,650 miles from Mexico to Canada, drawing thru-hikers and section hikers through Southern California each spring. (newsweek.com) May 20 reporting described the outbreak as concentrated near Wrightwood rather than spread across the full California trail. SFGate reported that dozens of hikers had fallen ill near Los Angeles and that at least one rescue had followed. ### What symptoms are being reported? Newsweek said hikers reported vomiting and diarrhea, the hallmark symptoms of norovirus infection. (newsweek.com) The California Department of Public Health says norovirus commonly causes vomiting, diarrhea and stomach cramps, and that illness usually begins 12 to 48 hours after exposure and lasts 1 to 3 days. The department says dehydration can become serious enough to require hospital care, especially for older adults and other vulnerable people. (sfgate.com) Ron Hals, a 73-year-old hiker cited by Newsweek from SFGate’s reporting, said he had “never been that weak” and that within an hour he was struggling to stand. Newsweek said Hals had walked more than 370 miles in the previous weeks before becoming sick. ### Why does a shared water cache matter? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says norovirus spreads when virus particles from vomit or feces get into someone’s mouth, often through contaminated food, water, hands or surfaces. (newsweek.com) In camping and hiking settings, the CDC says limited clean water, shared spaces and reduced sanitation can speed transmission. The agency also says most portable water filters do not remove viruses like norovirus and that boiling is the most reliable way to kill germs in water. Newsweek said the Wrightwood outbreak’s exact source had not been confirmed. But it reported that early signs pointed to the shared cache, a common trail practice in dry stretches where hikers leave or collect water. ### Has this happened on the Pacific Crest Trail before? The CDC documented a separate gastrointestinal illness outbreak among Pacific Crest Trail hikers in Washington state in 2022. (cdc.gov) In that investigation, the agency said social media reports and a survey identified 27 ill hikers, and two stool samples tested positive for norovirus. Most respondents reported fatigue, and 77% reported both vomiting and diarrhea. (newsweek.com) That investigation did not involve Wrightwood, but it showed how quickly gastrointestinal illness can spread on the trail when hikers share facilities or water sources and have limited sanitation options. That is an inference from the CDC’s findings on trail conditions and transmission risks. ### What are hikers being told to do now? The CDC says hikers should wash their hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, not rely on hand sanitizer alone, and keep bathroom areas away from food and water sources. (cdc.gov) The California Department of Public Health says people are most likely to spread norovirus while they have symptoms and for 48 hours after symptoms stop. (cdc.gov) May 21 coverage said hikers in the Wrightwood area were being urged to avoid shared caches and take extra precautions while the source remained unconfirmed. The most current trail-wide alerts are typically posted by the Pacific Crest Trail Association, while health guidance remains on CDC and California public health pages. (newsweek.com) (cdc.gov)