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Five E. coli infections under investigation after visits to Homer Glen pumpkin farm
Will County health officials are investigating five Shiga toxin-producing E. coli cases among people who attended events at Bengtson’s Pumpkin Farm. The farm has closed its petting zoo while officials investigate; no source of infection has been confirmed.
Will County health officials are investigating five confirmed cases of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli that may be connected to visits to Bengtson’s Pumpkin Farm in Homer Glen. The cases involve people from Will, DuPage, Cook and Kane counties, and investigators have not determined how the infections occurred or whether they share a source.
The people affected all attended events at the farm, said Sean Conners, the Will County Health Department’s environmental health director. Officials are examining possible exposure through food, water, animals or the surrounding environment.
The farm voluntarily closed its petting zoo after health officials contacted it on Oct. 21. Its other operations remain open, according to the farm. The business is arranging for animal testing and cooperating with the investigation.
The farm said health officials inspected its food-service areas and vendors on Oct. 21 and found no problems. It also said the petting zoo has handwashing stations and is cleaned daily. The farm’s co-owner, Scott Bengtson, said the business had not previously experienced an issue involving its animals.
Anyone who visited the farm on or after Sept. 29 and develops symptoms of E. coli infection is urged to contact a health care provider and complete the health department’s confidential survey at https://redcap.link/PumpkinFarm. Symptoms can include severe stomach cramps, diarrhea — sometimes bloody — and vomiting. They may begin one to 10 days after exposure, most often within three to four days.
STEC bacteria can spread through contaminated food or water, contact with animals or contaminated surfaces, or contact with an infected person. Young children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems face a greater risk of severe illness.