E. Coli Outbreak Forces Shutdown of All Chipotle Restaurants in Washington and Oregon

Chipotle has closed all 43 restaurants in Washington and Oregon in response to an E. coli outbreak that has sickened 22 people.

As of last Friday, three people in the Portland, Oregon area and 19 people in western Washington had become sick from E. coli, the Associated Press (AP) reports. Officials expect more cases as people learn of the outbreak and those who have intestinal symptoms see a doctor.

Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria live in the intestines of people and animals. Most E. coli strains are harmless and, in fact, play an important role in a healthy human intestinal tract, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). But some E. coli are pathogenic and can cause illness, either diarrhea or illness outside of the intestinal tract.

E. Coli can be transmitted through contaminated water or food, or through contact with animals or persons. Symptoms usually emerge within three to four but can develop in as little as one day or as long as ten days. Symptoms include severe stomach cramps, diarrhea (often bloody), and vomiting. If the individual has a fever, it is usually less than 101˚F. Most people recover within 5–7 days, but the infection can be severe or even life-threatening and some people develop kidney and other complications. Young children and older people are more likely to experience serious illness.

Seventeen of the people who have become ill have told health officials that they had they had eaten at a Chipotle restaurant in recent weeks. Eight people have been hospitalized but, to date, no deaths have been reported in the outbreak.

Marissa D’Angeli, a medical epidemiologist with the Washington State Department of Health, expects to see more cases in coming days. Symptoms of infection have been reported in Clackamas and Washington counties in Oregon, and Clark, King, Skagit and Cowlitz counties in Washington, the AP reports.

D’Angeli said anyone who has had intestinal symptoms and has eaten at Chipotle since mid-October should see a doctor and be tested for E. coli. Anyone who has bloody diarrhea, regardless of whether they have eaten at Chipotle, should see a doctor.

D’Angeli says that the E. coli strain that has caused the recent illnesses may have come from a fresh food item used at Chipotle restaurants and other places, according to the AP. She said that every ill person interviewed provides information that may help identify the source of the infection. Investigators will talk to everyone who has been diagnosed with E. coli and ask about what they ate and where. Washington and Oregon state labs will test samples from sick individuals and an FDA lab will test food items from Chipotle restaurants to see if the E. coli bacteria match the human cases.

D’Angeli said Chipotle has cooperated with the investigation and had voluntarily closed all of its restaurants in the two states. Chipotle spokesman Chris Arnold said the length of time the restaurants remain closed depends on the results of the investigation. The AP reports that the company has no plans to close restaurants in other states because no infections have been linked to other Chipotle locations.

from Parker Waichman http://www.yourlawyer.com/blog/e-coli-outbreak-forces-shutdown-of-all-chipotle-restaurants-in-washington-and-oregon/