What is the story about?
Ron Hals, a 73-year-old hiker, was feeling fine when he set out on the Pacific Crest Trail near Wrightwood, California. The following morning, a helicopter
had to be dispatched to lift him off the trail. He was later diagnosed at hospital with norovirus. "I've never been that weak," Hals told SFGate. His case is not isolated. Over the past several weeks, approximately two dozen hikers on the same stretch of trail have reported falling sick with similar symptoms, and at least seven of those cases have been formally diagnosed as norovirus.
What is norovirus and why does it spread so easily
Norovirus is a highly contagious group of viruses that causes severe vomiting and diarrhea, according to the Cleveland Clinic. It can spread through close contact with an infected person, touching a contaminated surface and then touching your face, or consuming food and water that has been contaminated. On a busy trail where hikers share water sources, rest spots, and tight camping areas, the conditions for transmission are hard to avoid.There is no cure for norovirus. Managing it comes down to staying hydrated and getting enough rest until it passes.
Where did it come from
The source of the outbreak has not been officially confirmed, but some of the cases appear to be connected to a cache of water that had been left along the trail in Swarthout Valley by volunteers to help hikers stay hydrated during the journey. Since the link was identified, those containers have been replaced with sealed water bottles.The Pacific Crest Trail is one of America's most celebrated long-distance routes, stretching 2,650 miles from the Mexican border all the way to Canada. The section near Wrightwood sits not far from Los Angeles and sees heavy foot traffic during the peak northbound hiking season, which is currently underway.
What the authorities are saying
The Pacific Crest Trail Association acknowledged the situation in a statement posted to social media on May 20, saying it was aware of reports of gastrointestinal illness in the Wrightwood area and that it was working with the San Bernardino County Department of Public Health to assess what had happened. The organisation said it would share more information publicly once it became available.The county health department told SFGate that one confirmed norovirus case had been reported to them on May 18, but added that it did not have evidence of a confirmed cluster of cases beyond what would normally be expected in the area. The department said it would continue monitoring the situation.
