Customers are being turned away at some Chipotle restaurants after an E. coli outbreak has sickened more than 20 people.
The popular Mexican food chain has temporarily closed dozens of locations in Oregon and Washington.
At least eight people have been hospitalized from the E. coli outbreak linked to the restaurant, and health officials expect the number of people affected to continue to go up.
Most of the victims said they had eaten at a Chipotle in the Portland area and in western Washington over the past few weeks. They report experiencing severe abdominal cramps and vomiting.
“The excruciating pain in my abdomen was something I’ve never experienced. It feels like your guts are being ripped out,” said Chris Collins, who was diagnosed with E. coli.
Out of caution, Chipotle has voluntarily shut down 43 locations across Oregon and Washington.
In a statement, the company said, “The safety and well-being of our customers is always our highest priority, even though the vast majority of these restaurants have no reported problems.”
Health officials expect the number of illnesses to rise in the Pacific Northwest as more people hear about the outbreak and see their doctor.
“People can still become ill, even if the risk is no longer present, because the incubation period can be up to 10 days,” said Jeff Duchin, of Seattle and King County Public Health.
So far, there have been no deaths linked to the outbreak.
WSBTV
