Overview
- San Luis Obispo County has confirmed five cases of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli tied to visits to Brookshire Farms, and three infected children are in serious condition in a pediatric intensive care unit.
- Brookshire Farms voluntarily closed for the remainder of pumpkin season and says it is cooperating with public health investigators while awaiting test results.
- Health teams are collecting visitor surveys and running environmental and animal tests to pinpoint the source of infection; officials say results could take several days.
- Officials warn that STEC infections cause severe stomach cramps and bloody diarrhea and can lead to kidney injury in young children, and they advise visitors who were at the farm between Oct. 16 and Oct. 26 to monitor for symptoms and seek care if ill.
- Agritourism settings can spread STEC through animal contact, contaminated surfaces or produce, and person-to-person transfer, so investigators will use testing and tracebacks to decide if more warnings or operational changes are needed and the public should watch for updates.