E. coli from pumpkin patch outbreak spreads to a California preschool
Health officials say the newly infected person caught the illness through person-to-person contact at the school and is recovering at home.
E. coli has spread to a San Luis Obispo, California, preschool after an outbreak linked to the Brookshire Farms pumpkin patch killed one person. Health officials say the newest case involved person-to-person transmission at the school, and affected classrooms are closed Monday. The newly infected person developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, a serious complication, and was hospitalized. The person is now recovering at home and never visited the farm, but is thought to have had contact with someone who did.
The pumpkin patch outbreak sent three children to pediatric intensive care. Officials said five people were infected after visiting the farm on Oct. 17 or 18, and 10 more who visited between Oct. 16 and 26 developed matching symptoms. Health officials could not pinpoint the exact source, though other E. coli strains were found in farm samples. Farm co-owner Shawn Callaway said cleanliness was not a problem and that he did not believe the pumpkins were the source.
By the numbers
- 1person killed in the pumpkin patch outbreak
- 3children sent to pediatric intensive care
- 15people infected after visiting the farm, including 5 confirmed and 10 with matching symptoms
Key points
- Symptoms include severe stomach cramps, bloody diarrhea, vomiting and sometimes fever.
- Young children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems face higher risk.
- Officials said the pumpkins were never tested.
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