Scientists: Chipotle food contained E. coli bacteria

Washington and Oregon officials say that 37 have been sickened by E. coli. That's an increase from the previously reported 22.

An E. coli outbreak linked to Chipotle restaurants in Washington state and Oregon has sickened almost two dozen people in the third outbreak of foodborne illness at the popular chain this year.

Katrina Hedberg, an epidemiologist with the Oregon Health Authority said evidence points to produce being the likely source of the bacteria, with contamination taking place at the supply or distribution level.

Chipotle restaurants in Washington have also been linked to the E. coli outbreak.

In 2008, health officials initially suspected raw tomatoes to be the source of a salmonella outbreak that sickened people around the country, Hanson said.

A sign posted on the door of a Chipotle restaurant in Portland Ore. reads"temporarily closed due to a supply chain issue"

At least one Washington County resident fell ill after eating at an undisclosed location, to officials at the Oregon Health Authority.

People who have symptoms of diarrhea or vomiting and have eaten at Chipotle on or after October 7 through the end of the month should seek health care and have their stool tested, Hedberg said.

"The 1,700-outlet chain has grown quickly since it opened in 1993 with a single location, distinguishing itself from typical fast-food restaurants by touting its use of healthy and high-quality fresh ingredients in its menu of burritos, tacos and salads".

"We don't have much more to tell you about this outbreak", Frieden said. Seven of the Washington patients and one Oregon patient were hospitalized.

The lawsuit was filed by Charmaine Denise Mode of Kelso, Wash. It's also important that everyone who has this infection be properly diagnosed.

Ashley Arellano, of Gladstone, was stunned when she got the diagnosis. In the most extreme cases, E. coli can be deadly.

It's possible all the people who have gotten sick have something else in common, other than Chipotle. I was nauseous, I couldn't hold anything down.

"I was terrified that I was going to go to bed and not wake up", she said. Lindquist says none of the 22 people with E. coli have experienced risky complications so far. Investigators needed to know exactly what they ate and where.

In Washington, 23 of the 25 cases involved the person eating at the chain.

Now officials are doing more tests, on samples of human waste and on any E. coli found in food samples, looking for exact DNA matches. "There is no doubt that as a result of this E. coli outbreak consumers will question Chipotle's food safety standards".

Chipotle Mexican Grill said it is conducting deep cleaning and full sanitation of its restaurants in the area.

Chipotle said it has 1,931 locations, and each restaurant brings in about $2.5million in revenue a year on average.

Oregon health officials said Chipotle customers in Clackamas and Washington counties in Oregon, and Clark, King, Skagit and Cowlitz counties in Washington reported symptoms. But because the incubation period for E. coli could be as long as 10 days, there might be people who have not yet reported symptoms of illness.

Analysts also reviewed Chipotle's previous food issue that took place in August in Minnesota, which is a more heavily penetrated market than Washington and Oregon.

"The safety and wellbeing of our customers is always our highest priority".