Hikers with norovirus had to be evacuated

06/22/2023 2:44 pm (act. 06/22/2023 02:44 pm)

Several Wander have been infected ©Canva

Several hikers were driven from huts in the Allgäu mountains into the valley on Wednesday with diarrhoea.

Around 50 forces from the Bavarian Red Cross and Johanniter were working in cooperation with the mountain rescue service, a spokeswoman for the Oberallgäu district office said. By afternoon, nine climbers had left by helicopter.

At least 19 patients

The noro virus was already detected on Monday in a person who visited one of the affected huts. There are 19 patients in total. According to the information, all those affected were treated on an outpatient basis and were able to be discharged again. Health department officials are on their way to huts in the area around Oberstdorf to get an overview and clarify how to proceed with hut owners. Huts must be disinfected. The virus is very contagious.

Authorities assume that around 300 to 400 people are in the area. “It is not yet possible to estimate how many people have been infected,” said the spokeswoman for the district office.

All huts still open

The district health department and the aid organizations involved want to continue to monitor events over the weekend. There is no longer a warning about climbing into huts. Also, not a single hut was closed. The cause of the outbreak will be investigated further. The authority suspects that those affected have been infected with the norovirus.