How to Avoid Norovirus While Backpacking

Want to know how to avoid Norovirus while in the backcountry? Then you have come to the right place as I consider myself a self-proclaimed expert due to a medical condition that I have that if mixed with Noro, could easily kill me. I’ve spent almost a decade researching (and talking to my own GI) how to avoid Norovirus while backpacking, so I can continue knocking trails off my bucket list.

I am sharing my knowledge of how to avoid Norovirus while backpacking with all of you because the best way to avoid spreading it is never to get it in the first place!

What is Norovirus?

Norovirus is a nasty, nasty germ (virus) that causes severe cramping, vomiting, and diarrhea and is highly contagious. Symptoms tend to present themselves 12-48 hours after exposure and last one to three days, most of the time requiring treatment for dehydration.

You can continue to shed Norovirus in your feces for up to two weeks, and if you have an underlying health condition, it can last several weeks to several months.

The virus is spread through the vomit and feces of infected humans and animals and is contracted by eating contaminated food or drinking contaminated water. Even just having close contact with an infected person can cause you to become infected.

Once an area has been infected, it is hard to rid that area of norovirus because it can withstand hot and cold temperatures, and most disinfectants cannot kill it.

Norovirus Symptoms

The most common symptoms:

• diarrhea
• throwing up
• nausea
• stomach pain

Other symptoms:

• fever
• headache
• body aches

Tips to Avoid Norovirus

Wash Your Hands! – This should go without saying but washing your hands after using the bathroom and before eating is the easiest way to prevent the spread of the norovirus. Make sure to wash them for at least 20 seconds (sing the ABC song)! Dr. Bronner’s Soap doesn’t weigh that much and a little goes a long way, so there’s no reason why you shouldn’t carry some with you when you are out backpacking.

Use Clean, Filtered, and Purified Water in Contaminated Areas (or boil your water)—Speaking of washing your hands, remember you can also get Norovirus by drinking contaminated water. So, in areas where Norovirus is present, make sure your water has been purified (as well as filtered) before drinking or using it for hand washing. It’s pointless to wash your hands if the water is contaminated. MOST FILTERS HIKERS CARRY DO NOT KILL THE VIRUS! For more information, check out the CDC on water treatment in the backcountry¹,

Use Bleach Wipes – Chlorine Bleach kills the virus. Chlorine Bleach kills the norovirus dead. Keep some chlorine bleach wipes on hand so you can use them at shelters or areas where you know norovirus is running rampant. Remember that it is bleach, so make sure not to touch clothes or gear (otherwise, you risk the chance of ruining them). According to the CDC, you want to use something with at least a 2% solution. A good one is Clorox Healthcare Bleach Germicidal Wipes. You can even buy small packets to keep with you through outbreak areas. Don’t forget to pack them out!

Don’t Share Food -Don’t let someone else reach into your bag, and don’t reach into someone else’s bag. Or, as my husband and I tend to do, eat out of the same Mountain House meal packet! Only accept food that is individually wrapped.

Don’t Share Drinks—This should go without saying, but one of the best ways to avoid norovirus is not to let anyone drink out of your cup, water bottle, or flask and not take a swig out of anyone else’s. You have no idea what their hygiene is like, so just don’t risk it.

Don’t Share Eating Utensils—Even if the person looks healthy, remember that symptoms can take up to 48 hours to appear. Your best bet is not to share utensils at all.

Don’t Share Gear – This goes for pretty much any gear, but most importantly, water filters, dirty water bags, food bags, hand sanitizer, soap bottles, or anything else that the hiker may have touched with “dirty” hands. I can’t stress how highly contagious this virus is! If you run out of soap or hand sanitizer and need to borrow some, have that hiker squeeze some into your hands. Don’t touch the bottle it is contained in. Water filter froze or is now unusable? Boil your water instead of borrowing one! Then get a replacement ASAP.

Avoid Trail Magic In Outbreak Areas—I know! It’s not something you want to hear! If you are in an area where Norovirus has been prevalent, skip the trail magic and thank me later!

Wipe down privy seats with bleach wipes before using – The AT is notorious for having norovirus outbreaks. If you have to stop, either skip the privy or at least wipe the seat down with a bleach wipe, and wash your hands super well afterward!

Wipe down bear cables (or box handles) with bleach wipes before using – If using a bear cable or box, make sure to wipe the handle or cable down before using, then wash your hands immediately after.

GEL HAND SANITIZERS DO NOT KILL NOROVIRUS! Most Hand Sanitizers have been shown to be ineffective at killing norovirus. – The CDC states, “Alcohol-based hand sanitizers can be used in addition to hand washing. But, they should not be used as a substitute for washing with soap and water”. Furthermore, the use of alcohol gel-based hand sanitizer has not only been proven to be ineffective but also increases the risk of contracting the virus². There are a couple of hand sanitizers, such as Germstar ONE, Clorox Hand Sanitizer, and My-Shield, that have been proven to be effective³ in killing the norovirus; so it might be worthwhile to use them instead of the gel-based ones, which are ineffective.

Stay out of shelters—Most of the time, People are packed in like sardines, which is one quick way to share germs. So, if you can stay out of the shelters, it’s best to do so, especially in suspected outbreak areas.

Avoid Fresh Fruits and Vegetables—Norovirus can easily live on them. I know some hikers like to grab an apple or such, but unless you plan on washing it properly before eating, it’s best to skip it.

What To Do If You Get Norovirus While Backpacking

Get off trail ASAP – Get off the trail as soon as possible and isolate yourself in a hotel room. Do not go to a hostel. Go to a hotel room where you have your own room and own bathroom.

Notify Hotel Clerk— Make sure you notify the hotel clerk upon checkout so they can properly sanitize the room and bathroom. You’d hope that would be standard practice, but you never know these days!

Let Your Shuttle Driver Know BEFORE—Be courteous and let your shuttle driver (if you have to get one) know beforehand so they can make arrangements to make sure you are the only person they are picking up, so they can take precautions themselves, and so they know to disinfect their vehicle.

Isolate Yourself—Don’t walk around town or into the grocery store. Get to your room and plan to stay there for several days away from everyone! Need something from the store? Pay to have it delivered to the front desk, explain the situation to the front desk, and have them drop it off at your door.

Stay Hydrated—Drink as many small sips of room-temperature water as you can tolerate. Staying hydrated is important because it is easy to become dehydrated with Norovirus.

Seek Medical Attention if Necessary – Don’t be afraid to head to the ER or an Urgent Care Clinic if you feel something ain’t right.

Don’t Prepare Meals or Handle Other People’s Property – You should wait a minimum of two days AFTER you feel 100% to start cooking food for others or handling other people’s property (meaning if you are hiking with a group or SO). Again probably best to expect to spend 3-5 days in a hotel room.

What Else You Should Know About Norovirus

Norovirus can live on surfaces for weeks! That means shelter floors, picnic tables, bear box handles, bear cables, privy doors, etc… It can live on both hard and soft surfaces.

Norovirus can live in still water for years! Yes, you heard that right, it can live in still water for months and possibly even years.

You can continue to spread it for 2+ weeks after you feel better. Once you feel better doesn’t mean you aren’t spreading it. You can continue to spread it through your feces for 2 weeks (longer for some people who can’t clear it).

You can get it more than once. Due to multiple strains of Norovirus, you can get it over and over again. It’s like the virus that keeps on giving. For instance, say a couple of strains are going around the trail. You get one strain and recover, and several days later, your hiking partner gets a different strain. Guess who is about to be sick again if they don’t take some serious precautions?! You!

There are no specific treatments. While anti-nausea meds can help, nothing can help shorten the virus. Your best bet is to stay hydrated as much as possible. If dehydration becomes an issue, a trip to the ER may be in order!

My Thoughts on How To Avoid Norovirus

The basic takeaway to avoid norovirus in the backcountry is to use common sense and wash your hands after using the bathroom and before you eat, don’t share food, and if you are sick, get off the trail and isolate. Just because you are backpacking doesn’t mean you should stop practicing good hygiene after using the bathroom or before eating! Wash your hands and wash them often! Be mindful of items you touch and keep up to date with where outbreaks occur.

Disclaimer: The information provided is for educational purposes only. I am not a healthcare professional. Always seek advice from a medical professional before using any product that claims to kill viruses or bacteria. The information provided does not constitute medical advice and should not be taken as such. Use the information in this article at your own risk.

Sources

1. https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/drinking/travel/backcountry_water_treatment.html ↩︎
2. https://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/01/14/really-the-claim-hand-sanitizer-stops-norovirus-spread/ ↩︎
3. https://www.stopthestomachflu.com/welcome-to-stop-the-stomach-flu/which-hand-sanitizers-kill-stomach-flu-viruses-especially-norovirus-and-c-diff-spores ↩︎