Death reported in E coli outbreak linked to California pumpkin patch as more cases emerge

One person has died in an E. coli outbreak linked to a California pumpkin farm, San Luis Obispo County health officials confirmed Tuesday. Officials have not released the person’s age or identity.

The death follows confirmation of five cases of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli infection, potentially originating from Brookshire Farms in San Luis Obispo, according to an advisory issued by the County of San Luis Obispo Public Health Department.

"We can confirm that one individual associated with the E. coli outbreak has died. We are sharing this information with the permission of the individual’s family," Tom Cuddy, public information officer for the department, said in a statement to The Tribune of San Luis Obispo on Nov. 10.

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"This is truly a heartbreaking development, and our thoughts are with the family and everyone affected by this outbreak. The entire team at Public Health extends our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones during this difficult time."

In a Nov. 6 statement, the health department said an additional 10 individuals who visited the farm between Oct. 16 and Oct. 26 and developed symptoms have been deemed "suspect cases." 

Tests of water, food and other samples from the farm found some bacteria, including other E. coli strains, but did not detect the strain responsible for the outbreak, officials said.

People who became ill shared possible exposures to corn cups, pumpkins, hay and water not intended for drinking, but officials could not pinpoint the source.

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No farm animals or petting zoos, which are known to be common sources of this type of infection, were accessible to visitors or operating at the farm.

Investigators faced several limitations, including numerous possible sources, items no longer available for testing and delays between exposure and sampling. No further environmental testing is planned, according to the report.

"Based on the findings of our investigation, we believe the risk of additional exposure associated with this incident has passed, and there is no longer an ongoing public health threat," said County Health Officer Dr. Christy Mulkerin.

"Our hearts go out to the families affected by this outbreak. We thank all those who have helped protect our community in response to this outbreak, and we encourage community members to continue practicing good handwashing and food safety to protect themselves and their families."

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Typical symptoms of E. coli include cramping, severe abdominal pain, bloody diarrhea and signs of dehydration, which usually begin within three to 10 days of exposure.

Young children under 10 are typically at the highest risk for complications, which can include hemolytic uremic syndrome, a serious condition that damages blood cells and can lead to kidney failure, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Dr. Tyler Evans, an infectious disease physician and founder of Wellness Equity Alliance in California, warned that diarrhea can lead to dehydration and fatigue.

"The diarrhea is really the key component here, and the stomach cramps," he told Fox News Digital.

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Evans said younger children and older adults can be particularly vulnerable, emphasizing the need to closely watch children younger than 5.

Speaking generally about potential exposure routes in pumpkin patches, Evans said E. coli can spread when bacteria from feces reach someone’s mouth.

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He pointed to potentially contaminated food or water, animal contact and person-to-person transmission as possible transmission routes.

Evans also noted that not all E. coli bacteria cause illness. The confirmed cases in this investigation involve Shiga toxin-producing E. coli.

The health department shared the following safe practices to protect against these types of infections.

Fox News Digital reached out to the county health department for comment. Brookshire Farms previously told Fox News Digital it was reserving comment pending test results.

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New weight-loss drug wipes out chronic knee pain in some patients, researchers say

An experimental weight-loss drug significantly reduced chronic knee pain and improved mobility in people with obesity and knee osteoarthritis, according to two clinical trials led by researchers at Northwestern University.

The trials, which were funded by Eli Lilly and published in The New England Journal of Medicine, evaluated retatrutide, a once-weekly injectable medication developed by Eli Lilly and Co.

Retatrutide, which is not yet FDA-approved, mimics three hormones involved in appetite and metabolism — GLP-1, GIP and glucagon — and has produced substantial weight loss in clinical trials.

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The late-stage trials enrolled more than 1,000 adults who were overweight or obese, did not have diabetes, and experienced painful knee osteoarthritis.

After 68 weeks in one trial and 80 weeks in the other, participants receiving the highest dose of retatrutide lost about a quarter of their body weight on average. A pooled analysis found that roughly two-thirds of those treated with the drug achieved at least a 50% drop in knee pain, compared with 38% of those receiving a placebo.

Beyond pain relief and functional gains, participants experienced reductions in blood pressure, lower blood lipid levels and decreased systemic inflammation, according to the researchers.

Gastrointestinal problems were the most common side effects, and serious adverse events were more common among participants receiving retatrutide than among those receiving placebo.

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Dr. Thomas J. Schnitzer, a professor at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and lead author of the study, said the findings offer therapeutic potential for specific groups of patients.

"For people who are obese, not diabetic, have radiographically confirmed knee osteoarthritis that has not progressed to bone on bone, and have consistent moderate knee pain, retatrutide treatment has the potential to result in a significant and meaningful reduction in their knee pain and improvement in their physical function while providing cardiometabolic benefit," Schnitzer told Fox News Digital.

While researchers anticipated benefits from the weight reduction, the "complete relief of knee pain" in one of every eight patients taking the drug was a surprise, Schnitzer said.

Painful knee osteoarthritis affects an estimated 15 million Americans, often turning routine activities such as standing, walking and climbing stairs into painful challenges.

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Conventional treatments include physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medications and steroid injections, which often offer only limited or temporary relief, according to the researchers.

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While earlier research has found that losing 5% to 10% of body weight through diet and exercise can ease knee osteoarthritis symptoms, losing more than 10% through those measures alone can be difficult, particularly when knee pain limits exercise, Schnitzer said.

Despite the study's promising outcomes, Schnitzer stressed that there were some limitations.

"People with knee OA who were not overweight or obese were not studied, and individuals who were obese and had more advanced OA were also excluded, so we have no information on them," he said.

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The trials excluded patients who needed knee replacement surgery. Whether retatrutide slows osteoarthritis progression or reduces the need for future joint replacements remains unknown.

For individuals experiencing joint pain who may meet the study criteria, Schnitzer recommended discussing options with a healthcare provider.

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"If someone fits the profile noted above, and they have been unsuccessful at losing weight, they should speak to their physician about the possibility of being treated with a medication that would help them lose weight, as that could also reduce their knee pain as well as provide cardiometabolic benefits," Schnitzer said.

At the same time, he emphasized that medication should not replace healthy daily habits.

"Before starting pharmacologic treatment for knee pain, people who are overweight should try diet and exercise and consider interventions such as physical therapy," Schnitzer advised.

"Also, even for people on weight-loss medications, exercise is an important part of any treatment plan to maintain as much muscle as possible."

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Woman claims hospital injected wrong drug into her spine during knee surgery, leaving her unable to walk

A Nashville woman is seeking $150 million from Ascension Saint Thomas Midtown, alleging that a medication error during knee replacement surgery left her with a permanent spinal cord injury.

Linda Gilbert, who was 78 at the time of the incident, alleges that hospital staff injected the wrong drug into her spinal canal during the procedure.

A total of four surgery patients received potassium phosphate instead of the intended anesthetic, mepivacaine, on Aug. 14, according to an Aug. 21 statement published on the hospital system’s website.

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The Nov. 6 complaint, which was provided to Fox News Digital by Gilbert’s attorney, alleges the injection severely injured her spinal cord and nerves, leaving her with incomplete paraplegia, severe weakness in both legs and the inability to walk, drive or live independently.

Gilbert also developed shock and respiratory failure requiring a ventilator, according to the filing. The lawsuit alleges that the patient’s injuries are permanent and says she remained in inpatient rehabilitation at a spinal cord injury center in Atlanta at the time it was filed.

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Gilbert’s lawsuit claims that staff continued using syringes from the same batch after two earlier patients reported burning pain. It also alleges medication preparation and verification failures, along with delays in treatment.

The patient is seeking $50 million in compensatory damages and $100 million in punitive damages.

Potassium phosphate is used to treat low phosphorus levels and to supply phosphorus in intravenous nutrition. Its prescribing information specifies that it must be diluted and administered through a vein.

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The label warns that excessive doses or overly rapid intravenous administration can cause dangerous heart rhythms, cardiac arrest, seizures and death, according to prescribing information available on NIH’s DailyMed. Those warnings concern intravenous use, rather than injection into the spinal canal as alleged in Gilbert’s lawsuit.

In a statement published by local NBC affiliate WSMV on Nov. 9, Ascension Saint Thomas said it was aware of the complaint and was cooperating with the legal process, but could not share additional details because the case was ongoing.

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"Our hearts remain with the four patients and families impacted by the recent medication error that occurred at Ascension Saint Thomas Midtown," the hospital wrote in a Sept. 11 statement on its website.

In a Sept. 16 update, the hospital said it was working with an independent quality consultant to "guide and verify the full scope of our corrective actions and process enhancements," adding that it remained "committed to learning from this and upholding the standards of patient safety, quality, and compassionate care."

About 790,000 total knee replacements are performed each year in the U.S., according to the American College of Rheumatology.

Most patients experience substantial pain relief and improved mobility, with only 2% reporting serious complications, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons states.

Medication safety recommendations emphasize the importance of clear labeling of drugs, including their names and concentrations, and reading the label to correctly identify each medication before administration. 

Fox News Digital reached out to Ascension Saint Thomas, Gilbert’s attorney, the Tennessee Health Facilities Commission and the Institute for Safe Medication Practices for comment.

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Common heart pill under scrutiny for older patients as study weighs risks of stopping

Some older adults may be able to stop taking statins with little added risk over two years, but a new study raises concerns about longer-term safety.

That’s according to a randomized clinical trial that was presented on Nov. 7, 2026, at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions in Chicago, and published in The New England Journal of Medicine.

Statins are prescription medications that lower LDL, or "bad," cholesterol by reducing how much cholesterol the liver makes. They are known to help reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke, according to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.

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The study – conducted by researchers from the University of Bern in Switzerland, the University of California, San Francisco, and other institutions – included 1,880 adults aged 70 years and older, all of whom were taking statins to prevent a first heart attack or stroke.

All participants had at least two chronic medical conditions, but did not have established cardiovascular disease or previous cardiovascular events. Half of the participants stopped taking statins, and the other half continued.

After two years, the added risk from stopping statins was small enough to fall within the limits researchers had set for the study. However, that did not mean stopping carried no added risk.

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Over the full follow-up, which lasted about two years for the typical participant and up to four years for some, about 13% of those assigned to stop statins had a heart attack, an ischemic stroke or died from any cause, compared with 9% assigned to continue treatment.

The study’s safety monitoring board also recommended that participants who were assigned to stop statins discuss restarting treatment with their healthcare team, according to the American College of Cardiology.

For other outcomes, the researchers found no meaningful differences between the two groups in reported quality of life, muscle pain, falls, or loss of muscle mass and strength.

Dr. Christopher Kelly, a UNC Health cardiologist, emphasized that continuing statins did not worsen reported muscle pain or quality of life in the trial.

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Although guidelines support lowering high cholesterol earlier in life, the benefits of continuing statins in older age are less certain, said study author Dr. Rita F. Redberg, a cardiology professor at the University of California, San Francisco, in a press release.

Earlier studies found no difference in mortality after adults 70 and older stopped statins for primary prevention, she noted.

"One study suggested quality of life improvements after stopping statins," Redberg said, adding that her team explored whether stopping was safe for older adults taking the drugs to prevent a first cardiovascular event.

The study had several limitations. About 14% of participants did not stick with their assigned treatment plan. Some who were told to stop taking statins resumed them, while others assigned to continue treatment stopped taking the drugs, according to the researchers.

The findings also may not apply to all older adults, as the study was limited to people aged 70 and older who had multiple chronic health conditions but no history of heart disease or stroke.

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Although some participants were followed for up to four years, the study primarily assessed outcomes over about two years. Longer follow-up is needed to determine how stopping statins affects patients over many years.

"This small, increased risk of cardiovascular events means that one cannot make a general recommendation about stopping statins in this patient population," Redberg said.

"There should be shared decision-making between the patient and the healthcare professional to know if it is appropriate for an individual to discontinue the medication. In general, however, discontinuation is safe for most people who are in this age group and without a previous CVD event."

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Kelly, who was not involved in the study, noted that a healthy 70-year-old could live another 20 years, leaving questions about the effects of stopping treatment over that longer period.

The doctor also emphasized individualized decisions based on overall health and expected lifespan, noting that he "errs on the side of caution" with his own patients.

"I typically recommend that they continue taking it unless they have specific concerns about that medication, such as side effects, or if they are taking a lot of medicines, and they're just really eager to stop taking one of them."

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Viral ‘heightmaxxing’ trend has teen boys taking cancer drugs to grow taller, doctors warn of risks

Medical experts are warning of a dangerous new social media trend known as "heightmaxxing," amid reports that teenagers are taking black-market cancer medications in an effort to grow taller.

Adolescents, primarily teenage boys, are reportedly turning to erdafitinib — often referred to online as "ERDA" or "Erta" — a targeted prescription drug approved to treat advanced bladder cancer.

Teenagers are reportedly experimenting with the prescription medication after encountering online discussions suggesting it could increase height.

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"It’s extremely concerning that teenagers are experimenting with powerful cancer medications in an attempt to grow taller," Dr. Stephanie Widmer, a New York City-based emergency medicine physician and Fox News medical contributor, told Fox News Digital.

"These drugs were developed to treat serious medical conditions, not to enhance physical appearance, and taking them without a legitimate medical indication or physician supervision can have devastating consequences."

The drug maker, Johnson & Johnson, pushed back against the practice in a statement to Rolling Stone, emphasizing that the medication has never been approved to stimulate height growth and that its safety and effectiveness have not been established for any pediatric or adolescent use.

Medical research has documented unexpected growth spurts in children receiving erdafitinib for brain tumors. A 2024 study published in Hormone Research in Paediatrics described accelerated growth in two pediatric patients, while a separate case report documented a teenager who grew more than 5 inches during treatment but developed serious skeletal complications.

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Physicians caution that these spurts do not equal healthy skeletal growth. Dr. Jessica Gray, a family physician in Lubbock, Texas, warned that forced, rapid growth can trigger dangerous structural problems, including premature growth plate damage and bone fractures.

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The drug works by blocking specific cellular signaling pathways involved in cancer cell growth, Widmer shared during an appearance on Fox News' "America's Newsroom."

Those same pathways also play a role in bone development, which may help explain why some pediatric patients experienced unexpected growth during treatment.

Widmer noted that height is overwhelmingly governed by genetics, and biological shortcuts do not exist. Once growth plates close near the end of puberty, medications cannot reopen them, meaning older adolescents taking the compound are incurring catastrophic health hazards without any chance of gaining height, she said.

"One of the biggest concerns is that these medications can cause serious side effects, including potentially permanent vision damage, elevated phosphate levels and other metabolic abnormalities," Widmer said.

"We’re talking about adolescents whose bodies are still developing, and exposing them to these risks for a cosmetic goal is particularly troubling."

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Other warning signs and side effects linked to the medication include skeletal pain — especially in the hips or knees — as well as mouth sores, loose nails and skin disorders.

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The trend has also raised concerns about the influence of social media on teenagers' decisions about their health. Widmer noted that online discussions about physical appearance and self-improvement can expose young men to potentially unsafe practices that lack medical evidence.

"Parents need to understand that this goes beyond teenagers being insecure about their height," the doctor said.

"We’re talking about young people potentially obtaining prescription cancer medications and experimenting with them outside of medical supervision. If a child has concerns about their growth, that conversation belongs in a pediatrician’s office, not on an internet forum."

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Doctors advise parents to watch for symptoms such as unusual joint pain or unexplained physical changes, and to speak with their children if they suspect they are using medications obtained online.

Teenagers concerned about their height or growth should consult a pediatrician before considering any medication.

"We should be encouraging teenagers to prioritize their health, not teaching them to gamble with it," Widmer said. "No amount of additional height is worth risking permanent damage to your vision or other serious and potentially unknown medical complications."

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Aggressive cancer type linked to common chemical exposure in new study

Two "forever chemicals" have been associated with a higher risk of aggressive breast cancer, according to research from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Forever chemicals, known as PFAS, are a group of synthetic chemicals that break down extremely slowly and can build up in the environment and the human body.

PFAS have been used in nonstick cookware, upholstery and clothing, as well as some food packaging and personal care items.

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The study, published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, found that women with higher blood levels of two types of PFAS — perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) — were more likely to develop estrogen receptor-negative (ER-negative) breast cancer.

ER-negative breast cancers tend to be "more aggressive" and have worse outcomes compared to breast cancers that respond to estrogen, according to a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) press release.

Data was drawn from a large U.S. research project called the Sister Study, which investigated environmental and genetic factors related to breast cancer. All participants had a sister diagnosed with breast cancer at enrollment but did not have breast cancer themselves.

Researchers measured 17 PFAS in blood samples collected before diagnosis from 1,609 women who later developed breast cancer and a comparison sample of 2,269 women, then examined links between PFAS levels and breast cancer risk by tumor type.

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The highest PFOA exposure group had a 67% higher rate of ER-negative breast cancer. The rate was 93% higher in the highest PFOS group compared to those in the lowest group. These figures represent relative differences between groups, not an individual woman’s chance of developing breast cancer.

The researchers found no clear association between PFOA or PFOS and breast cancer overall.

"This study, along with the accompanying meta-analysis of previous studies, provides evidence that two PFAS are related to a higher ER-negative breast cancer risk," study leader Alexandra White, Ph.D., a researcher at the National Institutes of Health, told Fox News Digital.

As this study focused mainly on older PFAS chemicals that have been largely phased out, the researcher said experts know "very little" about the PFAS that are replacing them, which could serve as a limitation.

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"They tend to be shorter-chain compounds and may be less persistent in our bodies and the environment, but we know little about how they may influence health outcomes, such as breast cancer," she said.

The findings show an association, not proof of causation, between forever chemical exposure and breast cancer risk, as the authors noted that more research is needed.

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said that "women deserve clear answers about how chemicals in their environment may affect their health," calling for further investigation.

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"Under President Trump’s leadership, we will pursue the evidence, confront environmental health risks and give women the information they need to protect their health," he said.

Medical oncologist Dr. Tiffany Troso-Sandoval, a New York City-based breast and gynecological cancer specialist who worked at Memorial Sloan Kettering for more than 25 years, also acknowledged that forever chemicals can increase cancer risk.

"Oftentimes, once you've been exposed to them, they will accumulate in your body and cause havoc, and can actually increase the risk of carcinogenic transformation of cells," she told Fox News Digital. "What was interesting about this study is that the link was found only in ER-negative breast cancers, which is a known aggressive subtype of cancer."

Few risk factors beyond genetic predispositions are known for ER-negative breast cancer, Troso-Sandoval noted, adding that "the study did not show that it increased the risk of all breast cancers in general."

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She suggested PFAS might damage DNA or interfere with the body's ability to repair that damage or destroy cancerous cells.

While patients with ER-negative breast cancer had higher levels of these compounds in their bodies, that does not prove the chemicals caused their cancers, according to Troso-Sandoval.

First author Che-Jung Chang, Ph.D., a former research fellow at NIH and a current researcher at DLH, noted that although PFAS are "persistent" in the environment and in the human body, exposure is "potentially modifiable."

"People can take steps to reduce their exposure, and these findings could open new avenues for prevention," she said.

Troso-Sandoval recommends reviewing everyday sources of exposure to PFAS and other potentially harmful chemicals, including the following:

Her concerns about black plastic utensils involve other chemical contaminants, including flame retardants.

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"Try to look at the products that you are using very frequently, and those are the first ones to swap out," she advised. "Maybe consider cooking with stainless steel pots and pans ... I recommend not heating up any food in plastic containers, because as you heat these plastics, they tend to leach more of the compounds into our foods."

She recommends reviewing cosmetics and personal care products that may contain some of these compounds.

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New California law will restrict sales of some muscle-building supplements to minors

Gavin Newsom has signed legislation banning the sale of some "muscle-building supplements" to Californians under 18 years of age.

The legislation (AB 2030), which was signed on Sept. 28, covers over-the-counter diet pills and dietary supplements for weight loss or muscle building. It will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2027.

"Nonprescribed, medically unapproved products may cause dangerous side effects," the governor’s office said in its announcement. "Products can be mislabeled or contaminated with substances such as steroids."

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California’s law restricts minors’ access to supplements marketed for muscle building – specifically, those that are "labeled, marketed or otherwise represented for the purpose of achieving weight loss or building muscle."

Courts may consider whether a product contains "creatine, green tea extract, raspberry ketone, garcinia cambogia or green coffee bean extract," the legislation states.

The law does not impose an outright ban on all creatine products. Restrictions depend on how the supplements are labeled, advertised and marketed to consumers.

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The law does not apply to people under 18 who have a prescription for an over-the-counter diet pill or dietary supplement for weight loss or muscle-building.

The release cites research indicating that nearly one in 10 adolescents have used such products.

It also references studies linking over-the-counter diet pill use to a sixfold greater likelihood of an eating disorder diagnosis within three years.

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The announcement does not specify whether whey protein or creatine products are included in the ban.

Sellers who do not adhere to the new law will face civil fines of up to $500 per violation.

The American Herbal Products Association, based in Maryland, released a statement opposing the law.

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"Lacking any scientific justification, AB 2030 casts a shadow over safe, beneficial products," said Robert Marriott, the association's vice president of regulatory and government affairs, in the statement.

The organization argues that the law's scope is unclear and notes that it does not explicitly exempt protein products.

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The Center for Science in the Public Interest, based in Washington, D.C., shared public support of the new legislation.

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"Manufacturers of these products often prey on kids and teens with deceptive claims that lack any scientific evidence," said Jensen Jose, a regulatory counsel at CSPI, which co-sponsored the legislation.

Dr. Sigrid Wolf, a pediatric sports medicine physician at Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, recently addressed the use of creatine products among teenagers, stating that evidence of benefits is limited.

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"In some cases, they might even be dangerous," wrote Wolf, who is a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics' sports medicine committee, in an article published on HealthyChildren.org, the American Academy of Pediatrics' parenting website. 

"Creatine can come with negative side effects such as weight gain, dizziness, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea."

"Studies show that many supplements contain harmful substances that go undetected," she added, instead recommending prioritizing nutrition, training, sleep and hydration.

Fox News Digital reached out to Newsom's office for comment.

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