Hikers along Southern California's Pacific Crest Trail have been smacked with fast-spreading cases of a "winter vomiting disease" – and they aren't the only ones.
east two dozen hikers have fallen ill along the trail near Wrightwood in the San Gabriel Mountains of San Bernardino County over the last two weeks, according to the Victorville Daily Press, part of the USA TODAY Network, resulting in at least one air rescue. All are believed to have norovirus, a gastrointestinal illness that causes unpleasant symptoms.
While the hikers may be in one of the less ideal situations to contend with an illness known for causing vomiting and diarrhea, California is not the only home to a current outbreak.
Data from WastewaterSCAN, a Stanford University-led tool that tracks disease presence by testing wastewater samples nationwide, categorized norovirus activity as "high" and on an upward trend nationwide in late May. Norovirus was in 100% of samples taken in May, and concentrations were especially high in the Northeast and Midwest.
The latest CDC data from the National Respiratory and Enteric Virus Surveillance System also showed a recent, multi-week increase in cases after a sharp seasonal decline beginning in March. About 11.2% of administered norovirus tests came back positive the week ending April 28, while 12% did so the week ending May 2.