Another outbreak of E. coli rocks California as nine kids struck and popular beach shut down

Nine children have been sickened by another E. coli outbreak in California as a popular beach was shut down.

The County of Santa Cruz and the City of Capitola announced Tuesday that Capitola Beach is temporarily closed as public health officials investigate an outbreak of a potentially serious strain.

It comes on the day it was revealed one person had died following a separate outbreak at a pumpkin farm in San Luis Obispo.

According to Santa Cruz County’s Public Health Division, four of the confirmed new cases involve Santa Cruz County residents, while five reside in neighboring Bay Area counties.

Health officials confirmed all nine cases are linked to a common exposure source, with preliminary findings indicating the infections likely occurred at Capitola Beach or surrounding waterways.

The source of the outbreak is currently unknown, according to the health division.

Environmental sampling has been conducted at four locations in and around Soquel Creek and Capitola Beach, including an upstream location near Nob Hill, the jetty, Soquel Creek Lagoon and the flume where water enters Monterey Bay, authorities said.

Additional water and environmental testing will be conducted continuously throughout the investigation.

The beach closure came on the heels of a recent E. coli outbreak at Brookshire Farms in San Luis Obispo, which left more than 15 people severely ill and claimed its first life on Wednesday.

Officials said five people contracted E. coli after visiting the farm on Oct. 17 or 18, and 10 additional individuals who visited the farm between Oct. 16 and 26 developed matching symptoms.

Three children required pediatric intensive care after developing Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome.

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