FILE VIDEO: Police in Bay Village, Ohio, literally had their hands full trying to dispose of a giant inflatable pumpkin that broke free during a storm. (Video: Bay Village Police Department /TMX)
TAKEAWAYS
- One person associated with the outbreak has died.
- Five infections were confirmed and ten other visitors who developed symptoms were classified as suspected cases.
- Investigators could not identify the specific source, but county health officials said the risk of exposure had passed.
SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA. – An epidemic of E. Coli linked to a California pumpkin farm has killed one person, as health officials announce there is no longer a threat to the public, although an official investigation has not identified the source of the deadly outbreak.
Brookshire Farms in San Luis Obispo was the subject of a health investigation after an outbreak of E. Shiga toxin-producing coli (STEC) has been linked to the fall seasonal hotspot.
One person associated with the outbreak has died, FOX News reported, citing county officials. The person’s age and identity have not been released.
People admire pumpkins at a pumpkin orchard in Half Moon Bay in the San Francisco Bay Area, California, United States, October 5, 2026.
(Liu Yilin/Xinhua via Getty Images / Getty Images)
This comes after five people with laboratory-confirmed Shiga toxin-producing E. coli O157 infections visited Brookshire Farms on Oct. 17 or 18, according to the San Luis Obispo County Department of Public Health.
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Ten other people who visited between October 16 and 26 and developed symptoms were classified as suspected cases, officials said.
Families take a hayride during the Fall Festival at the Pruyn House on Sunday, October 19, 2014 in Latham, New York
(Paul Buckowski/Albany Times Union via Getty Images / Getty Images)
Located on Los Osos Valley Road in San Luis Obispo, Brookshire Farms offers seasonal fall attractions including a pumpkin patch, corn maze and hayrides.
Tests of food, water and other environmental samples taken at the farm did not detect E. coli, leaving the specific source of the outbreak unidentified.
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Officials have identified edible corn cuttings, pumpkins, hay and non-potable water sources as potential exposures shared by infected visitors, but none have been confirmed as sources.
“While it is frustrating not to be able to identify the exact source of infection through environmental laboratory testing, this is not unexpected, and bacterial contamination is often temporary and difficult to detect with available sampling methods,” said Dr. Christy Mulkerin, county health officer.
Maple leaves lie on the ground near trees with colorful leaves during the fall season in Scarborough, Ontario, Canada, November 1, 2025.
(Creative Touch Imaging Ltd./NurPhoto via Getty Images / Getty Images)
Officials said farm animals or petting zoos, two common sources of STEC, were not publicly accessible or operated on-site.
According to the California Department of Public Health, STEC infections can spread when people ingest bacteria through contaminated food or water, or accidentally transfer germs from their hands to their mouth after contact with infected animals, contaminated environments, or infected people.
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In its Nov. 6 update, the county said investigators believed the risk of exposure associated with the outbreak had passed.
A woman walks through a pumpkin patch at the Cal Poly Pomona PumpkinFest in Pomona, California on October 25, 2026.
(Caroline Brehman / AFP via Getty Image / Getty Images)
“Based on the findings of our investigation, we believe that the risk of additional exposure associated with this incident has passed and that there is no longer an ongoing threat to public health,” Mulkerin said. “Our thoughts are with the families affected by this outbreak.”
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STEC infections can cause stomach cramps and diarrhea, which may be bloody. Severe cases can lead to kidney failure, and children under 5 are at greater risk of serious complications. Health authorities urge anyone experiencing these symptoms to seek medical attention.
Gn Health
