Five E. coli cases are confirmed in San Luis Obispo County, located on California's Central Coast, possibly linked to a local farm, health officials confirmed. The County of San Luis Obispo Public Health Department (SLOPHD) said on Monday, October 26, that it has confirmed five cases of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli.

The five reported cases are among two adults and three children, Tom Cuddy, the spokesperson for SLOPHD, told ABC News. The children are "seriously ill and in paediatric intensive care," Cuddy said, raising alarm among local health authorities.

The health officials are probing a potential link to Brookshire Farms, recognised for its seasonal offerings such as pumpkin patches, corn mazes, hayrides and other activities. Multiple media reports suggest all five E. coli patients had visited Brookshire Farms during the peak of the autumn season.

The San Luis Obispo health officials have urged anyone who visited Brookshire Farms between October 16 and 26 and is suffering from abdominal cramping and bloody diarrhoea about three to 10 days post visit, to see a doctor immediately. While the investigation to identify the source of the cases is ongoing, SLOPHD officials encouraged individuals who are contacted by the department to provide details to help identify the source of the infections.

According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), E. coli are bacteria found in many places, including in the environment, foods, water and the intestines of people and animals. While many E. coli infections are harmless, the agency warns that some strains can make people sick, developing symptoms including abdominal cramping, bloody diarrhoea, vomiting and a low-grade fever.