E. coli outbreak at California pumpkin farm claims first victim after three kids rushed to ICU

One person has died after an E. coli O157 outbreak was linked to visits to Brookshire Farms, a pumpkin farm in San Luis Obispo County, California. The death highlights the seriousness of the outbreak, which has also left three children needing intensive care, although officials say there is no ongoing threat to the public.

Officials reported five confirmed infections among people who visited on 17 or 18 October, and 10 others who visited between 16 and 26 October developed similar symptoms. Testing found other E. coli strains at the farm but did not identify the outbreak’s source; the county health officer said contamination can be temporary and difficult to detect. The farm’s co-owner disputes that its pumpkins were responsible, saying the county did not test them, while officials have urged people not to fear pumpkins.