Editor’s note: This story has been updated to reflect the number of people confirmed to have been sickened and other details from the Havasupai Tribe.
More than a dozen people are confirmed to have contracted an unnamed gastrointestinal illness on the Havasupai reservation. It follows several recent social media posts saying numerous people were sickened while camping at the tribe’s iconic waterfalls.
The Havasupai Tribe says 15 people reported symptoms like nausea, vomiting and diarrhea between Fri, June 8 and Mon, June 11. Officials say no other cases have been reported since.
Environmental health officers with the Phoenix Area Indian Health Service are investigating the illness. They say it has only affected visitors and the Supai Health Station has provided medical attention. Officials haven’t identified the source of the outbreak and say they’ve sent health advisories and preventative measures to residents.
"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," said the IHS in an emailed statement.
Coconino County Health and Human Services said it had received a report on Tuesday of a hiking group who'd been sickened with a gastrointestinal illness. But the agency did not confirm an outbreak.
"When recreating in remote areas, it is important to take extra precautions to prevent the spread of illness," said county spokesperson Trish Lees. "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."
Earlier this week, numerous people posted online that they had become violently ill over the weekend while camping at Havasu Falls and some even had to be evacuated via helicopter. Officials have not confirmed those reports.
The tribe says its water department tested Fern Spring, a public water source near the Havasupai campground, on June 6 and confirmed it was safe for human consumption. The tribe plans to test the water again next week.
