Dozens of hikers have reported falling ill during trips to the Havasupai reservation, known for its stunning blue-green waterfalls nestled deep in a gorge near Grand Canyon National Park.
One such hiker, 32-year-old veterinarian Madelyn Melchiors from Kingman, Arizona, experienced severe vomiting and a persistent fever after camping on the Havasupai reservation. Despite being an experienced backpacker, she had to hike out in a weakened state, thankful that a mule helped transport her heavy pack up the winding trail.
Melchiors, who slept for 16 hours and hydrated with electrolytes after her ordeal, said she would recover but is still not back to normal. She drank from a tested spring and used a gravity-fed filter, but these measures might not have been enough to fend off the illness, which could have been viral.
The federal Indian Health Service (IHS) has stepped in, providing timely medical attention at a reservation clinic and sending environmental health officers to investigate the source of the outbreak. Their priority is the health and well-being of both Havasupai residents and visitors.
Coconino County health officials received reports of gastrointestinal illness from hikers but couldn’t specify the number affected, as the tribe’s land lies outside the county’s jurisdiction. Nevertheless, they urged hikers to take extra precautions, such as filtering water and watching for early symptoms of norovirus, a common cause of such outbreaks.
Madelyn Melchiors, a 32-year-old veterinarian from Kingman, Arizona, said she was vomiting severely Monday evening and had a fever that endured for days after camping on the Havasupai reservation. https://t.co/DQFEtSEHaY
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Thousands of tourists visit the Havasupai reservation each year to camp near the picturesque waterfalls. The remote reservation is accessible only by foot, helicopter, or horseback. The hike involves an 8-mile descent through desert terrain before reaching the first waterfall, followed by another 2 miles to campsites with waterfalls on either end.
Tourism is a significant revenue source for the Havasupai Tribe, but the campground has limited infrastructure. Reports from hikers on social media indicate the trails are littered with garbage, including bathroom tissue, plastic bottles, and fuel canisters. The Havasupai Tribe Tourism Office recently tested water from a local spring and found it safe for drinking, but the outbreak’s source remains under investigation.
FOX-10 TV in Phoenix first reported on the illnesses, noting that some hikers opted for a helicopter exit due to their severe symptoms. Many others have shared their experiences with gastrointestinal problems on social media.
Reflecting on her ordeal, Melchiors said, “I definitely have a literally bitter taste in my mouth right now. I think I would approach things a little bit differently.”