One of Queensland's most popular camping areas is due to reopen today after a gastrointestinal illness outbreak forced its closure last week,
But experts say similar infections could occur at any camp site if hygiene rules are not followed.
Two camping spots at Inskip Point were shut on December 3, with campers told that morning to find other accommodation and not to camp at any other site for at least 72 hours.
Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) said it gave the order following advice from Queensland Health.
Toilets at Sarawak and Sarawak West camping areas have been thoroughly cleaned and QPWS said it had disinfected all 14 toilet blocks at Inskip Point "numerous times" over recent weeks.
In a statement, it said an investigation was yet to find the source of the outbreak and warned the illness that infected campers led to "severe vomiting and other gastrointestinal symptoms".
Easy to transmit, easy to catch
Last year, Australians took 7.2 million trips to free camping sites, with about half aged 50 or older and one-third children.
Inskip Point alone attracts about 60,000 campers a year from across the country — meaning a lot of people potentially sharing limited amenities.
Linda Selvey from the University of Queensland said any campsite where lots of people were sharing limited amenities was at risk of a gastro outbreak.
The associate professor from UQ's School of Public Health said some forms of gastro, including norovirus, are incredibly contagious, can become airborne, and is able to survive on surfaces for weeks.
"You don't need many virus particles to get it," she said.
The more remote and pristine a location, the less likely it is to have significant toilet facilities.
"It's appropriate in terms of landscape. You don't want to build [lots of] toilet blocks," she said.
"If there were a lot of people there, that can really put a strain on it.
"Even if people don't go elsewhere, there's limited facilities to wash your hands and you can contaminate surfaces pretty easily."
Associate Professor Selvey said if there was no toilet available, ducking into the bush was not a good option.
"People do a poo and it gets washed into waterways, and if there's a pathogen there then that's another way it can be transmitted," she said.
Drink clean water, sanitise your hands
She said campers needed to make sure they were drinking treated water in case human waste was entering the waterways, and consistently using hand sanitiser.
Park rangers agree.
"No matter their health status or conditions, campers staying in close proximity to others need to practise heightened personal hygiene," a spokesman said.
"Particularly with hand washing, food storage and preparation, and sharing food and drinks."
