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Chipotle Sickens 50 in Washington and Oregon with E. coli

Fifty ill people have been reported from Washington (31) and Oregon (19). Fourteen people have been hospitalized in Washington (10) and Oregon (4). There have been no reports of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) and no deaths.

Thirty-three isolates from ill people in Washington (22) and Oregon (11) have been uploaded to the CDC PulseNet database. All 33 people were infected with STEC O26 that has the same DNA fingerprint. Additionally, as reported on November 6, a search of the PulseNet database identified one person in Minnesota infected with STEC O26 that has the same DNA fingerprint. This ill person did not eat at a Chipotle Mexican Grill in the week before illness onset. Minnesota’s investigation is ongoing. The illness does not appear to be related to the outbreak in Washington and Oregon linked to Chipotle Mexican Grill locations in those states. Whole genome sequencing, an advanced laboratory technique, is being used to give investigators more information about the DNA fingerprint of the pathogen causing illnesses in Washington, Oregon, and Minnesota.

CDC and state and local public health partners are continuing laboratory surveillance through PulseNet to identify additional ill persons and to interview them. Updates will be provided when more information is available.

The investigation is still ongoing to determine if the ill people ate a meal item or ingredient in common that was served at the Chipotle Mexican Grill locations. Several food items collected from Chipotle Mexican Grill locations in Washington and Oregon are being tested by FDA and Chipotle for the presence of bacteria. As of November 12, 2015, test results have not identified E. coli in any of the food items tested. Additional results are pending and will be reported once available.

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