E Coli bacteria found in water coolers at Tennessee zipline attraction where 500 visitors fell ill

  • After visiting the CLIMB Works Zipline Canopy Tour in Gatlinburg, hundreds reported symptoms such as nausea and vomiting
  • Multiple visitors tested positive for norovirus and at least one was positive for enteropathogenic E coli
  • Scientists found that the contamination came from the coolers next to the zipline course, which serve well water
  • CLIMB Works said it is cooperating with health investigators and is offering refunds to those who became sick on the trip

More than 500 people have fallen ill after visiting a Tennessee zipline course from E Coli bacteria found in the water.

After visiting the CLIMB Works Zipline Canopy Tour in Gatlinburg, hundreds reported symptoms including nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, reported WTVR. 

According to the Tennessee Department of Health, multiple patients have tested positive for norovirus. One patient tested positive for norovirus and for enteropathogenic E coli. 

Scientists found that the contamination came from the coolers next to the zipline course, which serve well water. Several samples tested positive for the bacteria.  

More than 500 people have fallen ill after visiting the CLIMB Works Zipline Canopy Tour in Gatlinburg (pictured) from E Coli bacteria  found in the water

More than 500 people have fallen ill after visiting the CLIMB Works Zipline Canopy Tour in Gatlinburg (pictured) from E Coli bacteria found in the water

'At this time we cannot point to one simple cause of this outbreak,' said Dr John Dunn, an epidemiologist at the Department of Health, in a statement. 

'Preliminary testing and environmental health assessments indicate the water system at the zipline facility may have contributed to the outbreak.

'However, there are likely other sources involved in the spread of the illnesses, including contaminated surfaces and person-to-person transmission.' 

Norovirus is characterized by nausea, vomiting, watery diarrhea and stomachache. Symptoms manifest anywhere between 12 and 48 hours after someone is exposed, although the symptoms generally only last between one and three days.

According to the CDC, the virus is extremely contagious and can be transmitted through food or drink, touching objects contaminated with the virus, or coming into contact with someone who has norovirus.

Enteropathogenic E coli similarly causes watery diarrhea and other gastrointestinal illness, but the symptoms can last for several days. 

In a review on the CLIMB Works' Facebook page, Brooke Waters wrote on July 11 that her husband became sick after a visit.   

Scientists found that the contamination came from the coolers next to the zipline course (pictured), which serve well water 

Scientists found that the contamination came from the coolers next to the zipline course (pictured), which serve well water 

'The next day my husband was so sick and was bedridden. We lost an entire day of our vacation,' she wrote.

'We didn't know what was wrong until I saw the news article stating that other were sick as well.'  

Leslie Litton wrote in a July 10 review that her sons became violently ill after drinking the water from the coolers at the attraction.

'Made for a horrible trip home, everyone holding puke bags and experiencing extreme nausea...Hope there are no longer term effects of the illness you caused,' she wrote. 

Gail Harmon, East Tennessee regional assistant director with the Tennessee Department of Health, told WVLT that at least 550 of the more than 2,900 visitors who received surveys reported being sick.

CLIMB Works said it is cooperating with health investigators and is offering refunds to those who became sick on the trip, reported WCPO.