The Will County Health Department is reviewing information from about 200 confidential surveys of people who may have become ill after visiting Bengtson’s Pumpkin Farm in Homer Glen.
The Health Department said Friday it was investigating a link between five confirmed cases of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli that could be linked to Bengtson’s Pumpkin Farm and asked anyone who experienced diarrhea, stomach cramps, vomiting or other symptoms of gastrointestinal illness to complete a confidential online survey.
The Health Department was looking for additional information from anyone who visited the pumpkin farm on or after Sept. 29.
The department said it received about 200 surveys since Friday, and is reviewing them with its communicable disease staff and the Illinois Department of Public Health to determine if additional followup with those individuals is needed, spokesman Kevin Juday said Monday.
There are still only five confirmed cases of E. coli-related illnesses, he said.
The department will follow up on the surveys as warranted, Juday said.
The pumpkin farm is open, but ownership has voluntarily closed its petting zoo out of an abundance of caution.
A veterinarian tested animals in the petting zoo, and the county’s environmental health team was on site during testing, Juday said. The vials will be sent to the Illinois Department of Public Health labs for review, he said. It is likely to take several days to receive the results, he said.
The environmental health staff will also collect samples of items such as the animals’ bedding, enclosures and water supplies to see if the strain of E. coli is present, Juday said.
The process is to ensure a thorough investigation, he said.
Bengtson’s Pumpkin Farm released a statement Monday saying the farm is open and has been given approval by the county Health Department to continue to operate. Rides, attractions, food stands and vendors are open during its regular hours through Nov. 8.
The only area closed is the petting zoo, which was voluntarily closed while testing and the investigation continue, the statement said.
“We also want to emphasize that no source of the reported E. coli illnesses has been confirmed,” the statement said. “While the individuals who became ill had previously visited our farm, health officials have not determined where or how these infections occurred. The investigation is still ongoing, and we are continuing to cooperate fully with the Will County Health Department.”
“Our thoughts remain with those who have become ill, and we sincerely hope for their full and speedy recovery,” the statement said.
Juday said Bengtson’s ownership has worked with the Health Department.
Five individuals ranging in age from 4 to 38 years old became sick from Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, or STEC, and had attended the pumpkin farm, according to the department.
Young children, particularly those under 5, are at greater risk of developing a rare but serious condition called hemolytic uremic syndrome, which can cause kidney damage, the Health Department said. Older adults and people with weakened immune systems may also be at greater risk of serious illness.
Anyone experiencing symptoms should seek medical attention, since the particular strain can be life-threatening, Juday said.
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Anyone visiting any petting zoo or similar experiences should wash their hands, he said.
Bill Marler, a Seattle-area attorney who has specialized in petting zoo cases, said there is a risk for young children, especially babies, toddlers and stroller-aged children, to pet animals at events such as county or state fairs and pumpkin farms.
Many young children tend to put their hands in their mouths, Marler said.
Events such as pumpkin patches, corn mazes and harvest festivals put children within arm’s reach of farm animals, hay and manure-contaminated surfaces, and parents are looking for a cute photo opportunity, he said. E. coli outbreaks have been linked to goats, sheep and calves, which can shed the pathogen while looking perfectly healthy, he said.
Many times people are enjoying hand-held festival foods such as hot dogs and cotton candy near the animal enclosures, Marler said. Hand sanitizers are not effective after touching animals and shouldn’t be used as a substitute for hand washing, he said. Hot, running water and soap are needed to throughly wash hands, he said.
“For every one person counted in an E. coli outbreak, there are 10 other people sickened,” Marler said, noting not everyone sickened will seek medical attention.
Michelle Mullins is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.