Earth Watch Report - Biological Hazards
(Photo : Wikimedia Commons) Recent
outbreaks of norovirus and hantavirus in US national parks have
officials warning visitors to take precautions against disease.
(Photo : Wikimedia Commons) Recent
outbreaks of norovirus and hantavirus in US national parks have
officials warning visitors to take precautions against disease. officials warning visitors to take precautions against disease.
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| Description |
After 200 park employees and visitors reported bouts of
gastrointestinal illness at Yellowstone National Park and nearby Grand
Teton National Park this month, national park officials have warned
visitors to be vigilant about hygiene. The outbreak started on June 7,
when a group touring the Mammoth Hot Springs complained of stomach flu
and other gastrointestinal problems. After the tour group members
reported their illnesses, about other 50 visitors and 150 park employees
reported similar symptoms. Preliminary reports found that they had
norovirus, or "stomach flu," which affects up to 21 million people,
every year according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Al Mash, spokesman for Yellowstone National Park, said campers who
were worried about the outbreak should take care to properly store their
food and wash their hands with soap and water before eating. "Don't
rely on hand sanitizer. It's good for a while if you don't have access
to water," said Mash. "But sanitizer is a poor second to washing your
hands."
According to the CDC, the norovirus can be very contagious and is
usually passed from contaminated surfaces or food. Mash said that while
it might be more difficult to wash hands before and after meals on
camping trips, sporting goods stores sell soap slivers or biodegradable
soap that can be used on camping trips. "My manta is be aware but not
afraid," said Mash. Employees at Yellowstone and nearby Grand Teton park
have been cleaning and disinfecting the areas where the illnesses were
first reported. Yellowstone National Park regularly has 20,000 visitors a
day. The norovirus outbreak is just the latest one to hit the national
parks. Last year, Yosemite National Park experienced an outbreak of the
deadly hantavirus. Infection with hantavirus, often contracted through
contact with contaminated mouse feces or urine, can lead to hantavirus
pulmonary syndrome, which can be fatal, according to the CDC. Kathy
Kupper, a spokeswoman for the National Park Service, said if campers
were worried about becoming sick they should be sure to check in with
the park's website or information line before they arrive. Any potential
hazards from disease outbreaks from high concentrations of ticks, for
example, will be listed in each national park's newsletter or on its
website.
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| Biohazard name: |
Norovirus Outbreak |
| Biohazard level: |
2/4 Medium |
| Biohazard desc.: |
Bacteria and viruses that cause only mild disease to humans, or are
difficult to contract via aerosol in a lab setting, such as hepatitis A, B, and C, influenza A, Lyme disease, salmonella, mumps, measles, scrapie, dengue fever, and HIV.
"Routine diagnostic work with clinical specimens can be done safely at
Biosafety Level 2, using Biosafety Level 2 practices and procedures.
Research work (including co-cultivation, virus replication studies, or
manipulations involving concentrated virus) can be done in a BSL-2 (P2)
facility, using BSL-3 practices and procedures. Virus production
activities, including virus concentrations, require a BSL-3 (P3)
facility and use of BSL-3 practices and procedures", see Recommended
Biosafety Levels for Infectious Agents. |
| Symptoms: |
|
| Status: |
suspected |
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Norovirus outbreaks reported in Yellowstone, Grand Teton parks
In the northern section of the mountain valley known as Jackson Hole, Wyo., Grand Teton National Park is seen in this image. / Jon Cook
JACKSON, Wyo.A
norovirus outbreak that may have originated at Yellowstone National
Park in Wyo. may have affected around 200 people at both Yellowstone and
Grand Teton National Park.
About 50 visitors have reported
symptoms associated with norovirus, a highly contagious stomach flu that
is easily spread by touching an infected person or contaminated
surfaces. Up to 150 park employees may have been infected, though not
all those cases have been confirmed.
The outbreak is believed to
have started with a group of tourists who visited the Mammoth Hot
Springs area in Yellowstone on June 7. They complained of stomach flu
symptoms and, within 48 hours, employees who work with visitors also
reported being sick.
Physician's assistant Michael Takagi told the
Jackson Hole Daily that the outbreak is one of the most significant ones he's seen.
The National Park Service issued a June 19 statement
urging visitors to northwestern Wyoming to be vigilant about washing
their hands, due to "greater-than-normal reports of gastrointestinal
illness" after visitors and employees visited medical clinics with
symptoms of norovirus.
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