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Source: https://people.com/grand-canyon-whitewater-rafters-mysterious-illness-12015852
Mysterious Illness Is Sickening People Who Have Gone Whitewater Rafting in the Grand Canyon
The National Park Service is investigating why visitors to the Colorado River have reported lengthy bouts of a flu-like illness
By Cara Lynn Shultz
Published on July 10, 2026 04:07PM EDT
NEED TO KNOW
Rafters on the Colorado River have reported flu-like symptoms, including fatigue, fever, and joint pain
Experts are investigating possible causes like Valley Fever, leptospirosis, or illnesses spread by ticks or mosquitoes
The National Park Service urges affected rafters to report any symptoms following a trip
The National Park Service is investigating reports of a mysterious illness that has sickened people who went rafting on the Colorado River, which snakes through the Grand Canyon in Arizona.
During a rafting excursion in May, Matthew Wappett’s “whole knee just swelled up, was red” after skinning it in the middle of the trip, he told NBC News. From there, the Utah resident developed flu-like symptoms, explaining, “it feels like I did a hard workout every day even though I’ve done nothing but sit on my butt.”...
Mysterious Illness Is Sickening People Who Have Gone Whitewater Rafting in the Grand Canyon
The National Park Service is investigating why visitors to the Colorado River have reported lengthy bouts of a flu-like illness
By Cara Lynn Shultz
Published on July 10, 2026 04:07PM EDT
NEED TO KNOW
Rafters on the Colorado River have reported flu-like symptoms, including fatigue, fever, and joint pain
Experts are investigating possible causes like Valley Fever, leptospirosis, or illnesses spread by ticks or mosquitoes
The National Park Service urges affected rafters to report any symptoms following a trip
The National Park Service is investigating reports of a mysterious illness that has sickened people who went rafting on the Colorado River, which snakes through the Grand Canyon in Arizona.
During a rafting excursion in May, Matthew Wappett’s “whole knee just swelled up, was red” after skinning it in the middle of the trip, he told NBC News. From there, the Utah resident developed flu-like symptoms, explaining, “it feels like I did a hard workout every day even though I’ve done nothing but sit on my butt.”...