Overview
- Two groups of hikers were flown to a clinic in Tarbes on Thursday after drinking from a Pyrenees stream, with reports saying nine people suffered severe vomiting and diarrhea and two other cases occurred the day before.
- The Préfecture des Hautes-Pyrénées has issued renewed warnings that water that looks clear can be microbiologically unsafe and that filter bottles may not remove all pathogens.
- Local mountain rescue leader Sébastien Abbadie says crews now handle such incidents daily and logged more than 50 emergencies linked to drinking mountain water last year.
- Authorities point to contamination from animal feces and human waste entering streams and note that hot weather and hard hiking raise thirst and the temptation to drink from natural sources.
- Hikers are advised to carry or refill safe water supplies, to take about 0.5 liters per hour of walking, and to use tap or bottled water or hut refill points rather than relying on filters.