Coronavirus Outbreak: WHO calls emergency meeting. Norovirus Outbreak: Yellowstone & Grand Teton

With more than 200 reported cases of gastrointestinal illness among visitors and workers in Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks this summer, the National Park Service is urging visitors to be vigilant about hand-washing while on vacation.

On June 7, several members of a tour group arrived in Mammoth Hot Springs complaining of stomach flu and other gastrointestinal symptoms. Within 48 hours, numerous employees, whose jobs place them in contact with visitors, reported similar symptoms. Tests conducted on some of the sick visitors and employees came back positive for norovirus, the most common cause of acute gastroenteritis in the United States.

Over the past week, additional cases of GI illness among visitors and employees have been reported at both national parks. To date, those reports include more than 100 suspected cases of norovirus among employees in Yellowstone and about 50 suspected cases among employees in Grand Teton. Fifty visitors also went to medical clinics in Yellowstone with symptoms of gastrointestinal illness.

[link to missoulian.com]

Last Edited by DoorBert on 06/21/2013 05:38 AM