OCTOBER 4, 2023

Gastroenteritis Outbreak Highlights Need for Hygiene When Hiking

By Ethan Covey

Although hiking can be a good form of exercise, it is important to remember proper hygiene on the trail to prevent illnesses, such as gastroenteritis, according to a new report.

A gastroenteritis outbreak, which occurred in 2022 among hikers on a stretch of the Pacific Crest Trail in Washington state, was likely caused by norovirus (MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2023;72[36]:997-998).

“Within this section [of trail], environmental sampling identified human fecal contamination on