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Capitola Beach shut down after E. coli outbreak sickens 9 children
SFGATE • • general
Key Points:
- Capitola Beach has been closed by Santa Cruz County officials after at least nine children aged 12 and under were infected with the dangerous E. coli O157 bacteria between September 10 and October 25.
- Genetic testing linked the cases across multiple Bay Area counties, with most of those infected having been exposed to Capitola Beach, prompting a full closure of the beach and water access.
- Two children were hospitalized, and one developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, a severe complication that can lead to kidney failure.
- This outbreak follows a recent E. coli incident at Brookshire Farms pumpkin patch in Central California, though the two outbreaks currently appear unrelated.
- Shiga toxin-producing E. coli infections have surged in California, rising from about 500 cases to approximately 2,500 in 2023, with experts suggesting factors like raw milk consumption and regulatory oversight may contribute to the increase.
