Grand Canyon Reports Intestinal Illness Outbreak

The Grand Canyon National Park is urging visitors to the river and back country to be especially careful with sanitation after an outbreak of gastrointestinal illness.

As of Aug. 1, 68 river rafters had become ill with flu-like symptoms that included nausea, vomiting and diarrhea that appeared to be caused by a so-called Norwalk-like virus, park spokeswoman Maureen Oltrogge said. Such a virus can be spread from person to person by poor hygiene (such as failure to wash hands) or by drinking impure water, she said.

The park is working with health officials to determine the source of the outbreak, Oltrogge said last week.