Norovirus in the wilderness? How an outbreak spread on the Pacific Crest Trail

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https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2023/09/24/1201250339/norovirus-in-the-wilderness-how-an-outbreak-spread-on-the-pacific-crest-trail

Norovirus in the wilderness? How an outbreak spread on the Pacific Crest Trail

September 24, 2023 5:00 AM ET
Pien Huang

[...]

Norovirus is a highly contagious virus that can cause serious gastrointestinal distress for several days. It's often associated with enclosed, crowded settings like cruise ships, health care facilities and childcare centers.

But it also crops up in the wilderness – like in an outbreak among hikers like Quinn last year which was documented in a recent investigation by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Call in the disease detectives

After a stream of sick Pacific Crest Trail hikers came through the Washington Alpine Club Lodge near Snoqualmie Pass last summer, a volunteer named Robert Henry closed the dorm-style lodge and emailed health authorities.

"My concern at the time was to make sure that the hikers on the trail didn't get any worse, and to make sure that the volunteers at the Washington Alpine Club didn't contract whatever it was they were bringing in," Henry ways. He also worked to warn other hikers about the threat.

[...]

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1. Great story - thanks for posting

I didn't realize that norovirus lasted so long on surfaces.

I have taught personal hygiene to special needs young adults.

One of the things most people don't think about is, after a bowel movement, you may have fecal matter on your hand from wiping. If you then stand up and pull up your pants, you transfer it to the waistband, button and zipper.

Washing your hands afterwards is advisable. But if it's on your pants, you will potentially recontaminate every subsequent time you go to the bathroom.

The more you know...

Probably more than you wanted to know, but in the interest of public health....