“Nausea and vomiting”: why hundreds of hikers fell ill on the GR20 trails ?

L’ARS a mené l’enquête. Newscom

Au moins 236 personnes ont eu des troubles gastriques en randonnant sur le GR20, en Corse. Une épidémie qui aurait débuté à la fin du mois de juin selon l’Agence Régionale de Santé de Corse.

Between July 1 and 15, 2024, at least 236 people fell ill on the GR20 trails. Although no serious cases have been reported, emergency services have nevertheless intervened several times in the mountains and seven people have been hospitalized for a short period, according to Corse Matin.

The Corsican Regional Health Agency (ARS) has therefore conducted investigations to determine the origin of this gastroenteritis epidemic.

“Acute gastroenteritis for 2 to 3 days”

According to initial results, this would be due to a virus called norovirus. According to the Health Agency, it “causes acute gastroenteritis lasting 2 to 3 days on average and without complications”.

The duration of these symptoms may be longer in children and the elderly.

"It is easily spread from person to person. The symptoms are mainly diarrhea, abdominal pain, fatigue and nausea and vomiting,” indicates the ARS press release.

What are the best practices to adopt ?

While the peak of contamination has passed, the Regional Health Agency recommends maintaining hygiene measures to avoid a resurgence of the epidemic. Wash your hands frequently with soap or a hydroalcoholic solution, for example, and purify your water with filters or by boiling it.

At the beginning of the month, testimonies had multiplied on the networks and on France 3. Several people said they were suffering from serious stomach problems since they had drunk water from a refuge on the GR20 trail in Corsica.

The ARS press release specifies that if the water did not contain norovirus, it may contain other pathogens, as confirmed by the mother who had caught the Shigella bacteria.