Los Angeles (AFP)
Gastroenteritis strikes everywhere, even in a place as wild as California's Yosemite National Park: an epidemic has affected some 170 people there since early January, prompting the authorities to order a thorough cleaning of the infrastructure welcoming tourists.
Park officials in Yosemite (northern California) have launched an investigation to determine the causes of this epidemic, which affects both visitors and employees. "Most of the cases occurred during the first week of January, and there has been a significant drop in new cases in recent days," they said in a statement.
Most cases of gastroenteritis are compatible with a novovirus, a category of highly contagious virus that causes diarrhea and vomiting. The infection can be contracted by direct contact with a patient or by touching a surface carrying the virus. Symptoms occur quickly, often between 12 and 48 hours after exposure to the virus.
Yosemite Park says it is working with public health agencies and Aramark, the company that operates hotels, restaurants and campsites in the national park, to stem the epidemic.
According to the park's statistics, Yosemite sees an average of more than 100,000 visitors every January, an attendance that can exceed 500,000 during the summer months.
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