California Pumpkin Patch Closes for Season Amid E. coli Outbreak

Brookshire Farms, a popular pumpkin patch in San Luis Obispo County, California, has announced it will remain closed for the remainder of the season due to an E. coli outbreak that has sickened five people and sent three children to the intensive care unit.

The farm voluntarily closed its doors on Tuesday and confirmed its decision to stay shut through the end of pumpkin season on Wednesday, pending the results of an investigation by county health officials. The San Luis Obispo County Department of Public Health confirmed five cases of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, all of whom had visited Brookshire Farms.

County Health Officer Christy Mulkerin stated that the strain of E. coli involved can lead to severe symptoms including bloody diarrhea, vomiting, and in young children, can cause renal disease and kidney failure. While the exact source of the outbreak is still under investigation, health officials noted that all five infected individuals had visited the farm between October 16 and October 26.

The farm owner has stated that Brookshire Farms is cooperating fully with the investigation. Health officials are advising anyone who visited the pumpkin patch during the specified period and is experiencing symptoms such as severe abdominal cramps or bloody diarrhea to seek immediate medical attention. Symptoms typically appear three to 10 days after exposure, with young children being at higher risk for serious complications.

The Department of Public Health has also issued guidelines for handling pumpkins, recommending that they be cleaned before use and that dirt and debris be washed away. Surfaces that come into contact with pumpkins should be sanitized, and hands should be washed thoroughly with soap and water after handling them. The department noted that results from the farm's testing are expected in several days.