Skip to content
E. coli Outbreak Linked to California Pumpkin Patch Affects Preschool

E. coli Outbreak Linked to California Pumpkin Patch Affects Preschool

First seen 14 Nov 2026, 22:12 UTC • •
API

Article Content

Browse articles
ThreatCluster AI
ThreatCluster •November 14, 2026 at 22:13 UTC
  • •One person has died from E. coli linked to a pumpkin patch outbreak in California.
  • •Five confirmed infections and multiple severe cases reported among children.
  • •Person-to-person transmission confirmed at a preschool, leading to classroom closures.

An E. coli outbreak traced to Brookshire Farms pumpkin patch in San Luis Obispo County has resulted in one death and multiple infections, including severe cases among children. The outbreak, which occurred in late October, has now spread to a preschool where one case of person-to-person transmission was confirmed. The infected individual at the preschool had not visited the farm but contracted the infection from someone who did. Health officials reported that five people who visited the farm developed lab-confirmed infections, and three children were hospitalized with severe complications. The farm was temporarily closed during the investigation, and thorough cleaning protocols were initiated at the preschool. The exact source of the outbreak remains unidentified despite testing of food and water samples at the farm. Symptoms of E. coli include severe stomach cramps, diarrhea, and vomiting, with young children being particularly at risk.

Start a free Starter trial for enhanced analysis

Ask AI about this cluster

Updated 2h ago How this analysis works

Timeline

2026-10-17
Initial infections reported
Five individuals developed E. coli infections after visiting Brookshire Farms on October 17 or 18.
Latimes
2026-11-11
One death confirmed
Health officials confirmed that one individual associated with the outbreak has died, prompting further public health measures.
Latimes
2026-11-14
Preschool transmission identified
A case of person-to-person E. coli transmission was confirmed at a preschool, leading to classroom closures.
Nypost

More articles in this cluster (2)

Extracted Entities

1 / 2

Common questions

What are the symptoms of E. coli infection?
Symptoms include severe stomach cramps, diarrhea (which may be bloody), vomiting, and sometimes fever.
How is E. coli transmitted?
E. coli can be transmitted through contaminated food or water, and in this case, person-to-person transmission has been confirmed.
What actions are being taken at the preschool?
Affected classrooms have been closed, and thorough cleaning protocols are being implemented to prevent further transmission.