I get the newsletter from Mountain Crossings in Neel Gap. There was an interesting little blurb in today's edition:
"A Small Update From The Mountain:
There have been a fair amount of people getting sick on the trail. It is suspected that this illness is from a bad water source. We have had several people say that Lance Creek has had toilet paper, and other waste spotted in the creek. A few people have fallen ill while staying here at Mountain Crossings, causing us to close down the hostel. But after a deep cleaning of the hostel, and testing our water, we are back open and a-ok. All the staff here have been fine, so this sickness isn't contagious. If you are in a crowded area, or area of concern, don't just filter your water, boil or treat it with chemicals as well. Take extra precautions to stay clean and away from bad water!"