Norovirus Sickens 24 Pacific Crest Trail Hikers, Triggering 1 Air Rescue Near Wrightwood
Updated
Updated · Newsweek · May 20
Norovirus Sickens 24 Pacific Crest Trail Hikers, Triggering 1 Air Rescue Near Wrightwood
4 articles · Updated · Newsweek · May 20
Roughly 24 hikers reported norovirus symptoms along the Pacific Crest Trail near Wrightwood after illnesses began surfacing around May 8, and at least seven cases were medically confirmed.
A shared water cache in Swarthout Valley between Cajon Pass and Mount Baden-Powell is an early suspected source, though officials have not confirmed the contamination point.
One hiker was airlifted after becoming too ill to continue, underscoring how vomiting, diarrhea and dehydration can turn dangerous quickly in remote backcountry settings.
The 2,650-mile trail’s limited sanitation and shared campsites, food and water make outbreaks hard to contain, especially because hand sanitizer does not reliably kill norovirus.
CDC data show norovirus causes 19 million to 21 million U.S. illnesses a year, making the PCT outbreak a reminder that common stomach viruses can spread fast even outdoors.
Beyond the PCT, could this outbreak signal a growing public health risk on America's most popular trails?
Are popular backpacking water filters giving hikers a false sense of security against the spreading norovirus?