The Chipotle E. Coli Outbreak Hits 40 in Washington and Oregon
Twelve of those stricken have been hospitalized.
On Thursday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released new figures that indicate the outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli in the U.S. Northwest is still expanding.
The new data raises the total of those sickened by Escherichia coli O26 (STEC O26) to 40 from 39 on Wednesday: 12 from Oregon and 28 from Washington. The data was collected during investigations by the Washington State Department of Health and the Oregon Health Authority.
Twelve of those stricken have been hospitalized, but as of yet there haven’t been any deaths or reported incidences of hemolytic uremic syndrome.
The STEC O26 bacteria present in 10 of the cases (seven from Washington, three from Oregon) has gone through DNA fingerprint testing, and the results indicate the bacteria in all of the tested subjects shares the same DNA fingerprint.
The CDC has expressed both Washington and Oregon continue to report that most of the ill people had eaten at one of several Chipotle Mexican Grill locations in those states before getting sick.
The organization has also continued to point out it has no evidence that would suggest Chipotle outlets in other states are affected by the outbreak.
