E. Coli Outbreak Closes Chipotle Restaurants in Oregon and Washington
On Sunday, the popular Chipotle Mexican Grill chain announced the closing of all restaurants in two West Coast markets--Oregon and Washington--due to a reported outbreak of Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria.
So far, Oregon has reported three cases of E. coli, but Washington has tallied at least 19. All of the cases involve patients that had eaten at a Chipotle restaurant since October 14. No deaths have been reported, but eight victims have been hospitalized. Officials do expect the number of victims to rise because some may not have sought medical attention yet.