Hiking carries numerous physical risks, and while falling ill during the trip is not uncommon, it's lower down on the list of disasters people expect.
Madelyn Melchiors, 32, a veterinarian, was amongst the group of hikers who experienced "gastrointestinal illness" after consuming water from a spring that was "approved" as safe to drink last week at the Havasupai reservation campsite in Arizona. The news was shared by the hikers on social media, at a nearby clinic, and to local health officials.
The Arizona woman said that she was vomiting severely and had a fever that lasted for multiple days after pitching a tent at the reservation. However, she was able to hike 10 miles out of the site after she passed off her camping gear and other belongings to a mule that carried it out.
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Madelyn Melchiors experienced "gastrointestinal illness" after consuming water from a spring that was "approved" as safe to drink. (Getty Images)"I said, ‘If someone can just pack out my 30-pound pack, I think I can just limp along. I slept 16 hours and drank a bunch of electrolytes [afterward]. I’m still not normal, but I will be OK. I’m grateful for that," said Madelyn.
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Some hikers who became ill were airlifted by helicopter because they were too weak to hike out of the remote campsite located at the bottom of the canyon, which is inaccessible by car. The exact cause of the stomach illness remains unclear, but Madelyn confirmed that she drank water from a spring and other sources that had been previously "tested" and deemed safe to drink, using a filter designed to remove bacteria and protozoa.
The Arizonian woman said that she vomiting severely and the fever lasted for multiple days. (Getty Images/Cavan Images RF)The Havasupai Tribe Tourism Office confirmed they tested the drinking water from the local spring last week and determined it was "safe for human consumption." However, one county already warned its residents about the risk norovirus to hikers visiting Havasupai reservation, which draws in thousands of tourists each year.
The environmental health officers along with the federal Indian Health Service were deployed to the reservation to locate the source outbreak and add measures to prevent further spread. Meanwhile, a clinic operated by the Indian Health Service, which provided care for hikers on the reservation site, released a statement.
"Our priority is the health and well-being of the Havasupai residents and visitors, and we are working closely with local health authorities and other partners to manage this situation effectively,” they said. Following the unfortunate incident, Coconino County health officials warned visitors to the site about the "gastrointestinal illness", and it reads, "Watch for early symptoms of norovirus, such as stomach pain and nausea, before the trip.
"Norovirus spreads easily on camping trips, especially when clean water supplies can be limited and hand washing facilities may be non-existent. Isolate people who are sick from other campers."
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