Petting zoo closes as five E. coli infections prompt Homer Glen investigation

The petting zoo is closed. The pumpkin patch is not. At Bengtson’s Pumpkin Farm in Homer Glen, Illinois, visitors were still arriving Friday evening while health officials investigated five confirmed E. coli infections among people who had attended events there. The animal attraction had shut voluntarily; the rest of the farm remained open. ²

The illnesses are confirmed. Their source is not. Will County health officials are investigating whether the five infections share a common source and whether the farm is involved. A shared visit gives investigators somewhere to look, but it does not establish where anyone picked up the bacteria. ³

The investigation was publicly reported on October 23, 2026. As of October 24, no verified source determination, revised case count or animal-testing result was available in the reporting reviewed for this article. The five patients live across Will, DuPage, Cook and Kane counties; their ages, hospitalization status and individual outcomes have not been established. ^{2 3 7}

The farm’s account places its first contact with county health officials on October 21. In a statement reproduced by CBS Chicago, the operator said officials told it about five people with E. coli illness who had visited earlier that month. The farm said it immediately closed the petting zoo, which would remain closed until further notice. ²

“Our first thoughts are with those who are sick and their families, and we hope for their full and quick recovery,” the farm said. It added: “Testing is still under way, and no source of these illnesses has been confirmed.” ²

Sean Conners, the Will County Health Department’s director of environmental health, said the owners and staff had been fully cooperative. The county described the closure and arrangements for animal testing as precautionary steps within a broader investigation—not a conclusion that the animals transmitted the infections. ³

That second half matters. Investigators are also considering food, water and environmental exposure. Conners told CBS Chicago that the department initially focused on food because it issues the farm’s food permit, but was looking for any possible link. STEC can spread through contaminated food or water, animals, contaminated surfaces or contact with an infected person. ^{2 3}

The farm said county officials inspected its food service areas and vendors on October 21 and “found no problems.” That is the operator’s account, not a separately examined inspection report. It does not settle the source question: an inspection finding and an unresolved illness investigation can coexist. The farm also said it had arranged for a veterinarian to collect animal samples; that is not the same as a completed test or a result. ²

Co-owner Scott Bengston told CBS that the petting zoo was more than a decade old and had never had an animal-related issue like this. The farm described staff always present in the enclosure, daily pen cleaning, and handwashing sinks with running water, soap and towels at the entrance and exit. Those statements describe its practices and history. They cannot establish what happened to these five people. ²

With Halloween approaching, the practical consequence was a partial closure rather than a shutdown of the whole business. CBS reported that the pumpkin patch and other attractions continued operating and that the season was expected to end in the first week of November. No reopening date for the petting zoo was established. ²

The county wants to hear from people who experienced diarrhea, stomach cramps, vomiting or other gastrointestinal symptoms after visiting the farm on or after September 29. Its confidential online survey is available through the health department’s official notice. The request does not require a laboratory-confirmed diagnosis, and no closing date is specified. ³

The direction of that date matters. NBC Chicago’s October 23 follow-up said “on or before” September 29. The county’s notice says “on or after,” as does the farm statement reproduced by CBS. Visitors should follow the county’s wording. September 29 defines the visit window investigators are asking about; it does not establish when contamination began or mean every visitor was exposed. ^{7 3 2}

The survey is a way to help investigators identify patterns. It is not a substitute for medical care. The county advises anyone who develops symptoms after a recent visit to contact a healthcare provider and mention the visit, particularly if there is bloody diarrhea or severe stomach cramping. Signs of dehydration, decreased urination or unusual tiredness warrant immediate medical attention. ³

Laboratory testing confirmed Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, usually shortened to STEC. Most E. coli bacteria live harmlessly in the intestines of people and animals, but STEC can cause severe illness. Symptoms may begin one to ten days after exposure, most commonly within three to four days. Severe cramps, diarrhea that may be bloody, and vomiting are possible; fever can be low or absent. ³

Most people recover within a week, but some infections cause serious complications. Children younger than five are particularly at risk of hemolytic uremic syndrome, or HUS, a rare condition that can damage the kidneys. Older adults and people with weakened immune systems also face greater risk of serious illness. These are general risks of STEC infection—not established diagnoses or demographic details of the five patients. ³

The prevention advice extends beyond the animal enclosure. Wash thoroughly with soap and water after touching animals or anything in their environment, before preparing or eating food, and after bathroom use or diaper changes. Keep hands away from the mouth and do not eat until they have been washed after possible exposure. People with diarrhea or other illness symptoms should avoid preparing food for others until at least 48 hours after symptoms stop. ³

For families weighing animal contact, Sandra Eskin, chief executive of the nonprofit Stop Foodborne Illness, offered a straightforward alternative: “You can enjoy the animals without touching them or petting them.” That advice addresses a general risk; it does not identify the cause of this cluster. ²

The immediate tasks are clear even while the source remains uncertain: seek care for concerning symptoms, report illness within the requested visit window, and take precautions against further spread. The closed petting zoo is a protective step while investigators look for answers. It is not the answer itself.