Multistate Outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O26 Infections Linked to Chipotle Mexican Grill Restaurants

Posted November 20, 2015 2:15 PM ET

What's New?

• 3 additional states have reported people infected with the outbreak strain of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O26 (STEC O26) since the last update.
• 45 people infected with the outbreak strain of STEC O26 have now been reported from a total of 6 states: California (2), Minnesota (2), New York (1), Ohio (1), Oregon (13), and Washington (26).
• The epidemiologic evidence available at this time suggests that a common meal item or ingredient served at Chipotle Mexican Grill restaurants in several states is a likely source of this outbreak.
• The investigation is still ongoing to determine what specific food is linked to illness.
• CDC will advise the public if specific steps are identified that consumers can take to protect themselves.
• CDC, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and public health officials in several states are investigating an outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O26 (STEC O26) infections.
• As of November 19, 2015, 45 people infected with the outbreak strain of STEC O26 have been reported from 6 states.
  • 16 ill people have been hospitalized. There have been no reports of hemolytic uremic syndrome and no deaths.
• The epidemiologic evidence available at this time suggests that a common meal item or ingredient served at Chipotle Mexican Grill restaurants in several states is a likely source of this outbreak.
  • 43 (96%) of 45 ill people interviewed reported eating at a Chipotle Mexican Grill restaurant in the week before their illness started.
  • The investigation has not identified what specific food is linked to illness.
  • Chipotle Mexican Grill is assisting public health officials with understanding the distribution of food items served at locations where ill people ate and this work is ongoing.
• Investigators are using whole genome sequencing, an advanced laboratory technique(http://www.cdc.gov/amd/), to get more information about the DNA fingerprint of the STEC O26 bacteria causing illness.
  • To date, 10 STEC O26 isolates from ill people in Washington (9) and Minnesota (1) were found to be highly related genetically to one another.
• CDC and state and local public health partners are continuing laboratory surveillance through PulseNet to identify additional ill persons and to interview them.
• Consumers should contact a health care provider if they recently became ill with diarrheal symptoms after eating at a Chipotle Mexican Grill restaurant.
• CDC will advise the public if specific steps are identified that consumers can take to protect themselves.