5 E. Coli Cases Linked to a Popular Midwest Pumpkin Farm

If your family visited Bengtson’s Pumpkin Farm in Homer Glen, Illinois, after September 29, health officials want to hear from you.

The Will County Health Department announced on October 23 that it is investigating five laboratory-confirmed cases of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli — the same dangerous strain, known as STEC, implicated in some of the most serious foodborne illness outbreaks in recent years. Officials say the cases may be connected to visits to the farm, which is a popular fall destination in the Chicago suburbs.

As a precaution, Bengtson’s has voluntarily closed its petting zoo and is arranging for animal testing. The rest of the farm remains open. Health department personnel have been dispatched to collect environmental samples.

What the Farm Said

Bengtson’s released a statement after hearing from health officials, saying their “first thoughts are with those who are sick and their families.” The farm confirmed it is cooperating fully with the investigation and that the petting zoo closure will remain in effect until further notice.

One visitor who arrived to find the petting zoo closed told a local news station that staff inside told her the “animals were resting today.” The Will County Health Department has not publicly identified the specific source of exposure — whether animals, a surface, or something else entirely — saying only that investigators are looking at “all possible sources.”

Why Petting Zoos Are a Consistent E. Coli Risk

This isn’t a freak situation. Petting zoos at pumpkin farms and fall festivals are a documented, recurring source of E. coli outbreaks — particularly the O157:H7 strain. Livestock like goats, sheep, calves, and deer carry STEC in their intestines without getting sick themselves. The bacteria can be found on their fur, on fencing, on the ground, and on any surface in or around an enclosure.

Young children are both the most frequent petting zoo visitors and the most vulnerable population when it comes to serious STEC complications. The infection pathway is straightforward: touch an animal or contaminated surface, then touch your mouth before washing your hands thoroughly.

The CDC has documented 28 petting zoo-associated E. coli outbreaks over the years resulting in hundreds of illnesses, along with two separate outbreaks tied specifically to pumpkin patches. The combination — animals, fall family outings, excited kids who are much more likely to put their hands in their mouths — makes this type of outbreak predictable, if not preventable.

What to Watch For

The Will County Health Department is urging anyone who visited Bengtson’s on or after September 29 and developed symptoms to contact their healthcare provider and complete the department’s confidential online survey.

Symptoms of STEC infection include diarrhea — sometimes bloody — severe stomach cramping, vomiting, and fever. Symptoms typically appear between one and ten days after exposure. Most healthy adults recover within a week without treatment.

The warning signs that require immediate medical attention: bloody diarrhea, reduced or no urination, and extreme fatigue or paleness, which can signal the onset of hemolytic uremic syndrome — a kidney complication that is most dangerous in children under five. “If they’re experiencing diarrhea or fever or reduced urination, they should contact their medical provider,” said Sean Conners, Director of Environmental Health at the Will County Health Department.

When Symptoms Typically Appear

STEC symptoms typically appear 1 to 10 days after exposure, with most people noticing something within 3 to 4 days. That’s the window health officials use when they ask about recent farm visits.

The 10-day outer limit means anyone who visited in the past week and a half could still develop symptoms, which is why officials are asking about all visits on or after Sept. 29.

Anyone who visited on or after Sept. 29 and experienced symptoms is encouraged to complete the health department’s confidential survey at redcap.link/PumpkinFarm.

One Simple Prevention Step

Handwashing. Soap and water work better than alcohol-based hand sanitizer for removing E. coli, especially when hands are visibly dirty. Before leaving any petting zoo or farm animal area, wash hands thoroughly with soap and water. This is the single most effective thing you can do to prevent transmission, and it works whether or not there is a known outbreak. Kids should wash before they eat anything and before leaving the area, even if they don’t think they touched an animal directly.

The investigation is ongoing. No source has been confirmed.

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