SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — Health authorities confirmed Tuesday that one person has died following an outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli linked to a local pumpkin farm in San Luis Obispo County.
County public health officials announced the fatality with permission from the individual’s family, though they have withheld the person’s identity and age. The death follows five laboratory-confirmed cases of E. coli infection and 10 additional suspected cases among people who visited Brookshire Farms in mid- to late October, according to the County of San Luis Obispo Public Health Department.
Severe illnesses and hospitalizations
Among those who fell ill after visiting the site between Oct. 16 and Oct. 26, three children developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, a grave complication that damages red blood cells and can trigger kidney failure. All three children required treatment in pediatric intensive care units, officials reported.
Dr. Tyler Evans, an infectious disease specialist based in California, told Fox News Digital that young children and older adults face elevated vulnerability to severe complications from Shiga toxin-producing strains. Symptoms typically begin three to 10 days after ingesting the bacteria and include painful stomach cramps, bloody diarrhea and dehydration.
Search for the contamination source
Investigators gathered and evaluated samples of food, water and other farm materials, but lab testing failed to detect the exact bacterial strain responsible for the outbreak. Tests did reveal other harmless or unrelated strains of bacteria on the property, officials noted.
According to health department reports, visitors who contracted illnesses reported possible encounters with non-potable water, pumpkins, hay and edible corn cups. Officials highlighted that no petting zoos or farm animals were open to guests or operating on the premises during that window, ruling out a common transmission route for agricultural outbreaks.
Investigators faced obstacles including delayed reporting, items no longer accessible for collection, and the fleeting nature of bacterial contamination in outdoor settings. No additional environmental testing is planned.
Brookshire Farms voluntarily closed for 10 days during the peak autumn season before reopening. Co-owner Shawn Callaway told The Tribune of San Luis Obispo that the ordeal left him devastated, adding that county officials did not swab pumpkins because they cited limitations in testing methods for the produce.
Community impact and current risk
Out of an abundance of caution, the city of San Luis Obispo canceled its scheduled Nov. 1 Pumpkin Smash event, an annual post-Halloween activity designed to divert discarded pumpkins away from municipal landfills.
Despite the tragedy, county officials stated that the period of active transmission has concluded and that the farm no longer poses a danger to the public.
“Based on the findings of our investigation, we believe the risk of additional exposure associated with this incident has passed, and there is no longer an ongoing public health threat,” County Health Officer Dr. Christy Mulkerin said in a public statement.
Public health authorities continue to urge community members to follow standard safety precautions, such as frequent and thorough handwashing, when handling agricultural products or visiting outdoor attractions.
