Yosemite officials: 170 people report stomach illness. Two confirmed as norovirus
Yosemite National Park on Thursday announced approximately 170 people who visited or work at the California park reported experiencing gastrointestinal illness, with two of the cases so far confirmed as norovirus.
“The overwhelming majority of the reported cases are consistent with norovirus,” park spokesman Scott Gediman said.
Most of those affected spent time in Yosemite Valley. Most of the cases are believed to have occurred on and around the first week of January and “there has been a significant decline of new cases reported over the past several days.”
Recent visitors to Yosemite who want to report information connected to a case of gastrointestinal illness are asked to email yose_superintendent@nps.gov.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the most common norovirus symptoms are diarrhea, vomiting, nausea and stomach pain. A person usually develops symptoms 12 to 48 hours after exposure and typically gets better within one to three days.
Yosemite officials and medical professional with the National Park Service Office of Public Health are investigating and interviewing affected people. Other public health agencies and park partners are also working to help prevent additional illnesses.
“The park continues to undertake extensive cleaning and enhanced sanitation protocols,” Gediman said.
Norovirus can spread very easily, including through direct contact with an infected person, touching a contaminated surface or object, or ingesting contaminated food or drinks.
The norovirus announcement follows other recent bad news for the park, including The Ahwahnee losing its four-diamond status. Yosemite’s concessionaire is Yosemite Hospitality, a subsidiary of Aramark.
Yosemite illnesses also made headlines in 2012 with a hantavirus outbreak, contracted through infected rodents.
Yosemite’s norovirus news follows a San Francisco Chronicle story last week about park visitors reporting stomach issues. A Fresno Bee request for information last week from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services was not returned.
Yosemite officials offered the following tips to prevent norovirus transmission:
▪ Frequently wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap isn’t available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer comprised of at least 60% alcohol.
▪ Avoid sharing food or drinks with others, especially when you’re sick or they’re sick.
▪ If you become sick, stay hydrated, contact your healthcare provider, and limit interaction with others as much as possible.
This story was originally published January 16, 2020 at 4:11 PM.
