Norovirus Moving North On The AT

Privy at Wolfe Shelter
(Photo: Lori A.)

Norovirus has been reported on the AT this year, with a bad outbreak between Hot Springs, NC and Erwin, TN. There is concern that the Norovirus is moving north, as sick hikers, who can be contagious from 3 days to 2 weeks, carry it with them. Hikers in NC/TN were advised to avoid shelters/privies where other hikers may have been sick. The primary, effective way to disinfect contaminated areas appears to be bleach and very few hikers, with their 'houses' on their backs, are carrying bleach. Hand sanitizer, which many hikers use, is better than nothing, but that may not be effective as many hikers who have contracted the Norovirus have been using only hand sanitizer. Washing hands with biodegradable soap before eating or preparing food and after toileting is recommended (see ATC link at bottom of post for more details).

If you encounter hikers when on your trails, ask if they are aware of the norovirus and ask for any feedback about ill hikers and suspected locations. 

Update: Shenandoah National Park has issued an alert as of May 24, 2013:

Hiking Alert (Norovirus)

Here is a link to a blog that has some very good detail on the outbreak in NC/TN:

Norovirus on AT in North Carolina

Here is an email from ATC regarding the Norovirus:

From: Laurie Potteiger

Sent: Saturday, May 18, 2013 12:14 AM 

Subject: Re: Norovirus

I've attached the poster developed for use along the A.T. between Hot Springs and Erwin earlier in the season. I believe the language was developed primarily from input from the Tennessee Dept. of Health, after learning about the situation on the Trail and the practices of hikers. They noted all the sick people they had interviewed had used only hand sanitizer. They seemed to think that hand sanitizer was better than nothing but not adequate by itself.

I don't know if there have been any studies to determine how effective hand-washing in the backcountry might be, especially if only cold water were used. But it's feasible with planning and preparation, if inconvenient. There are also some non-alcohol-based hand sanitizers that claim to be effective against norovirus and registered with the EPA. One is www.microbearmour.com, but it's expensive.

Laurie Potteiger

Information Services Manager, ATC

Poster from ATC:

Help Prevent

Spread of Highly Contagious “Stomach Bug”

A.T. Shelters and Privies may have been used by sick hikers.

WASH YOUR HANDS w/SOAP & WATER.

- Treat all water. Use best LNT practices.

- Hand sanitizers may not be effective against the stomach bug.

- Stomach bug has a 12 to 48 hour incubation period, lasts 24-60 hours and may cause severe diarrhea, vomiting, and dehydration.

- People with stomach bug may be contagious for 3 days to two weeks after recovery.

Also from the ATC website, here is a link to their page on "Health & Safety", including a paragraph on the Norovirus with links to the CDC:

ATC: Health & Safety (see Sanitation: 'Norovirus')