While climbing Everest, two Icelandic mountaineers felt the first symptoms of Covid-19. Other cases had already been reported on the highest peak in the world.
- Two mountaineers felt the first symptoms of Covid-19 while climbing Everest.
- The number of cases is increasing in the base camp of the mountain.
They had tested negative before starting the ascent of Everest… And yet, it was almost at the end of their sporting prowess that two Icelandic mountaineers, Sigurdur Sveinsson and Heimir Hallgrímsson, felt the first symptoms of the Covid-19, as reported by the CNews site from an AFP dispatch. At more than 7000 meters above sea level, on the 8,849 of the highest peak in the world, they started coughing. Obviously, they immediately thought of SARS-CoV-2, but at this place, it was impossible to get tested. Despite the doubt, they continued and succeeded in reaching the summit last Monday at 4:30 am, after 67 days of travel. The descent was, on the other hand, more complicated because the difficulty breathing, the cough and the fatigue increased. A few days later, they returned to base camp and were tested: they were positive.
Other people who tested positive at a base camp
Surprisingly, their case does not seem isolated. In recent weeks, other foreign mountaineers have tested positive for Covid-19 at an Everest base camp, located 5,000 meters above sea level. On May 5, those responsible for the place explained to the BBC that there were 17 confirmed cases. The latter had been transferred to hospitals in Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal. Among the sick, the Norwegian climber Erlend Ness had felt symptoms in April, while he was staying in this camp. But officials simply thought he had mountain sickness, a syndrome linked to the lack of oxygen felt at high altitude and whose physical manifestations are similar to those of Covid-19. This resemblance also worries the managers of the camp because many mountaineers cough, which makes it difficult to detect cases.
The government is not reacting to the rise in cases…
In May, when the 17 cases were reported, the Nepalese government said it had not been informed. Now, while camp officials fear the formation of a cluster, authorities continue to deny the rise in cases. Both foreign and local tourists can climb to the top of the mountain without any restrictions. According to the managers, the installation of a screening center on the camp would have even been refused to them. For lack of anything better, they use test kits left behind by mountaineers when one of their customers shows symptoms. Thus, they can obtain a quick result, isolate the person in the event of a positive result and notify the emergency services if necessary.
…Despite requests from base camp officials
Another point of contention with the authorities: Everest base camp officials do not have information on the identity of climbers who tested positive in Kathmandu hospitals, which prevents them from warning other tourists who have been in contact with them. However, international health recommendations against the Covid-19 epidemic also encourage the isolation of contact cases in order to limit contamination.
The economic stake linked to tourism
Nepal’s borders as well as access to the mountains were closed from March to November 2020. As it is mainly based on tourism, the country’s economy was strongly impacted by the Covid-19 crisis last year. This may be one of the reasons behind the reluctance of the government to take stronger measures for tourists and this base camp of Everest. However, this month, the country has seen an upsurge in people testing positive for Covid-19: between 6,000 and more than 9,000 cases per day, compared to only 100 the previous month. Worrying data, especially since the majority of climbers stay in Kathmandu, a city where the virus is actively circulating, before starting their ascent.
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