CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – Health officials are monitoring a possible norovirus outbreak on the Appalachian Trail.

On Friday, multiple cases of suspected norovirus and gastrointestinal illnesses were reported on the trail, between Buena Vista and Waynesboro, according to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy.

On Monday, a suspected case of norovirus in Shenandoah National Park, at Blackrock Hut, was reported, according to the organization.

“Norovirus is the suspected cause and is very contagious,” a social media park from the park Wednesday said.

The group’s website lists precautions hikers can take to avoid illness on the trail.

  • Do not eat out of the same food bag, share utensils, or drink from other hikers’ water bottles.
  • Wash your hands with biodegradable soap (200 feet from water sources) before eating or preparing food, before touching your face, and after using the bathroom. Hand sanitizer may be ineffective against some causes of stomach bug, like norovirus.
  • In areas where stomach bug has been reported, also consider washing your hands with soap and water after touching gear that has come into contact with the ground or other shared surfaces: your shoes, pack, stuff sacks, etc.
  • Treat all water. Filters do not get rid of viruses. To learn best how to treat your water, see the CDC table below.
  • Follow Leave No Trace guidelines for disposing of human waste: if no privy is available, bury your feces at 6-8 inches deep in a cat hole that’s at least 200 feet (70 adult steps) from water, campsites, and trails. Wash your hands with soap and water after going to the bathroom.