The San Luis Obispo County Department of Public Health has confirmed five cases of STEC (Shiga toxin-producing E. coli O157:H7) linked to a potential outbreak at Brookshire Farms in San Luis Obispo, California, with multiple children hospitalized. The five cases include two adults and three children, Tom Cuddy, public information officer for the San Luis Obispo Public Health Department (SLOPHD), reported. The children are "seriously ill and in pediatric intensive care," Cuddy said. The health department said it is investigating a potential link to Brookshire Farms, known for its pumpkin patch, corn maze, hayrides, and other fall activities. Cuddy confirmed that all five patients had visited Brookshire Farms. Anyone who visited Brookshire Farms between Oct. 16 and Oct. 26 and is experiencing symptoms such as abdominal cramping and bloody diarrhea about three to 10 days post-visit should contact their healthcare provider, the department said. Cuddy said additional cases may be identified as the investigation continues. "We are working to determine whether other people may have been exposed and encourage anyone who visited Brookshire Farms during the suspected exposure period and develops symptoms to contact their healthcare provider immediately," he said. @ https://abcnews.com/Health/5-cases-coli-confirmed-san-luis-obispo-possibly/story?id=137635491
