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3 Kids Hospitalized After E. Coli Tied to Pumpkin Patch
Newser • • health
Key Points:
- A serious E. coli outbreak linked to a Central California pumpkin patch at Brookshire Farms has hospitalized three children in serious condition, with a total of five people infected by a Shiga toxin-producing strain.
- Health officials in San Luis Obispo County are investigating the outbreak and urge visitors to the farm between October 16 and 26 to watch for symptoms such as stomach cramps and bloody diarrhea.
- Brookshire Farms has closed for the remainder of the pumpkin season while testing is conducted to identify the source of the contamination.
- This outbreak follows a similar E. coli cluster linked to a pumpkin farm in Illinois earlier in October, raising concerns about pumpkin patch safety during the fall season.
- The county health department has issued guidelines on safely preparing and handling both intact and carved pumpkins to help prevent further infections.
