There's a bad case of norovirus going around Yellowstone lately. More than 200 park employees and visitors have reported symptoms of the gastrointestinal illness at Yellowstone National Park and nearby Grand Teton National Park this month. Now parkgoers are being warned.
The norovirus outbreak seems to have begun on June 7 after a group touring the Mammoth Hot Springs claimed that they had a stomach bug and other symptoms Following that incident, 50 other visitors and 150 park employees reported having similar problems, ABC reports.
The symptoms seem to be from norovirus, a stomach flue that impacts 21 million people every year.
According to Al Mash, a spokesman for Yellowstone National Park, campers who are concered about the outbreak should take proper precautions such as storing their food and washing their hands before eating. "Don't rely on hand sanitizer. It's good for a while if you don't have access to water," said Mash.
"But sanitizer is a poor second to washing your hands." Mash notes that it might for be easy to wash hands before and after meals while camping, but he said that sporting stores sell products like soap slivers and biodegrabable soap which is useful.
Norovirus is highly contagious. It is usually transmitted by touching contaminated surfaces or food. Yellowstone and Grand Teton park employees have been cleaning the parks, particularly in areas where the illness was reported but it is a daunting task as the park has 20,000 visitors a day.
This isn't the first time a dangerous illness has hit a national park. Last year, Yosemite National Park was dealing with an outbreak of the deadly hantavirus. The illness, which is spread through rodent feces and urine, can be fatal as it can lead to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. Eight people came down with the illness and three of them died. The National Park Service was forced to tear down the buildings where the outbreak occurred. They've also caught several rodents to test them for hantavirus.
The National Park Service advises guests to check the park's website for information before visiting if they have concerns. All potential hazards are listed on the website or in the newsletter.
"Always pay attention to the information. Don't just take the [informational pamphlet] and throw it in the glove box," said Kupper.
Norovirus is also a big problem on cruise ships and sometimes hotels.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
