FOLLOWUP: Chipotle closures continue while state investigates E. coli illnesses

This is the third full day that the Chipotle restaurant in West Seattle has been closed, along with the 42 other Chipotles in Washington and Oregon, after a regional outbreak of suspected E. coli-related illness. We checked with the state Health Department today to ask if they had any new information, including whether they would be identifying the six locations where the people with the known cases were reported to have eaten. The reply: No update today, but health authorities plan a media briefing tomorrow. Here’s their newest summary, in the meantime:

The restaurants under investigation are linked to 19 cases of E. coli illnesses in Washington. Four more cases were reported from Oregon, also associated with Chipotle restaurants. Seven of the Washington patients and two Oregon patients were hospitalized; there have been no deaths. An investigation is underway. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is testing food samples from Chipotle restaurants at their lab in Bothell. Biological samples from people who were infected have been tested at the Public Health Laboratories (Department of Health) in Shoreline.

Here’s our report from Saturday morning. The state advised later in the day that anyone who “thinks they may have become ill from eating at a Chipotle restaurant in the past three weeks” should see their health-care provider.

2 Replies to "FOLLOWUP: Chipotle closures continue while state investigates E. coli illnesses"

  • HelperMonkey November 3, 2015 (8:25 am)

    Has Chipotle corporate said anything about the employees who are now all off work through no fault of their own? I hope Chipotle is standing by them and paying them for this unscheduled time off. Even if they’re able to get unemployment there is a waiting week.

    • WSB November 3, 2015 (9:06 am)

      HM – I don’t know what percentage of their staff it is BUT everytime we have gone by during the closure – including minutes ago at 9 am – people have been working inside, in uniform. But we’ll ask.

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