Chipotle closes 43 stores in Oregon, Washington, as health officials investigate E. coli outbreak

Chipotle voluntarily closed dozens of restaurants in Oregon and Washington while health officials investigate whether a recent Escherichia coli outbreak is linked to food or other contaminated sources from the restaurants.

As of Nov. 6, 28 cases of E. coli, including 10 hospitalizations, were reported in Washington, and 12 cases, including two hospitalizations, were reported in Oregon. Ages ranged from 11 to 64 years old, according to Oregon health authorities. There have been no deaths.

Chris Arnold, Chipotle’s communications director, told Infectious Disease News that eight restaurants may be affected by the outbreak. However, 43 restaurants were closed “out of an abundance of caution.”

The first cases were reported on Oct. 14, according to Oregon health authorities. People who reported symptoms of infection were from Clackamas and Washington counties in Oregon, and Clark, King, Skagit and Cowlitz counties in Washington.

While the outbreak appears to be linked to food served at Chipotle restaurants, local and health state officials continue to work with the FDA and the CDC to determine the source of infection.

Officials are urging people with vomiting and bloody diarrhea who consumed food from Chipotle between October 14 and 23 to seek medical care and mention the outbreak.

“Anyone who thinks they may have become ill from eating at a Chipotle restaurant in the past three weeks should consult their health care provider,” Scott Lindquist, MD, Washington state epidemiologist, said in a press release. “The elderly and very young children are more likely to become severely ill from this kind of E. coli infection.”

The number of patients affected by the outbreak may be more than those already identified because many people infected with Shiga toxin-producing E. coli may not seek health care, Oregon health officials said.

According to the CDC, E. coli symptoms, including bloody diarrhea and abdominal cramps, usually occur 2 to 8 days after consumption. The infection typically resolves itself within a week, but some patients may develop more severe disease, including postdiarrheal hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). HUS can occur at any age, but is most frequent in children under 5 years of age and the elderly.

To prevent infection, the CDC recommends practicing proper hygiene, especially handwashing, and to cook meats such as ground beef to a temperature of at least 160°F (70˚C). The agency also recommends that people avoid consuming raw milk and unpasteurized dairy products and juices.

* This article was last updated on Nov. 6.