09/11/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/11/2024 20:08
DOH LAUNCHES SURVEY OF ALL RECENT VISITORS TO THE NĀPALI COAST STATE WILDERNESS PARK
Seeking information about activities and exposures possibly linked to norovirus outbreak
HONOLULU - The Hawaiʻi Department of Health (DOH), in coordination with the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) Division of State Parks (DSP), launched a survey directed to all visitors to the Nāpali Coast State Wilderness Park between July 1-September 4, 2024. A link to the survey is being distributed via email and social media. The survey also is available here: https://redcap.link/kalalaudohsurvey
The survey has two purposes. First, it will help DOH identify cases of norovirus that may not have been reported. Second, by gathering information from visitors who did not become sick as well as those who did become sick, it will allow DOH to identify activities and/or locations that are associated with a higher risk of becoming ill.
Survey responses will be kept confidential. The survey takes less than 10 minutes to complete. Even people who already have spoken to DOH about their illness are asked to complete the survey. Those who held permits to visit the park between July 1 and September 4, 2024, will receive a link to the survey by email. Others can access the survey by the link provided above. The survey is open to anyone who visited the park during the specified time period.
The highly contagious norovirus was identified last week as the cause of illness among dozens of park visitors. In response, the Kalalau trail from Kē'ē to Honopū in the Nāpali Coast State Park has been closed until at least September 19, 2024. All comfort stations along the trail are being cleaned and disinfected. Ha'ena State Park and Kē'ē Beach remain open with enhanced cleaning and disinfection of the comfort station there.
Norovirus causes copious vomiting, stomach pain and diarrhea, often with fever. It spreads very easily from person to person. Sick people shed billions of virus particles in their stool and vomit, and it only takes a few virus particles (<100) to make you sick.
The virus spreads in many ways, including:
There are steps you can take to prevent the spread of norovirus:
The CDC advises that people with norovirus do not return to work until at least 2 full days (48 hours) after their symptoms stop. This is especially important if you work in a restaurant, school, daycare, long-term care facility, or other places where you may expose people to norovirus.
For additional information on Norovirus go to:
Norovirus | Disease Outbreak Control Division (hawaii.gov)
Preventing Norovirus When Camping, Hiking, or Outdoors | Norovirus | CDC
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