Chipotle Food Poisoning News – The Oregon Health Authority announced today that there are now 12 confirmed cases of E. coli food poisoning in Oregon linked to Chipotle restaurants in Oregon and Washington state. Three of the reported Oregon illnesses required patient hospitalization.
On October 31, 2015, the Washington State Health Department announced that 19 Washington residents were infected with E. coli, requiring 7 hospitalizations.
Restaurants Across Oregon and Washington State Close Due To Outbreak
Forty-three Chipotle restaurants across Oregon and Washington closed this past weekend due to the outbreak, which public health officials say may be linked to eating food at certain Chipotle locations. Public health officials have yet to identify the source of E. coli contamination.
Oregon Health Authority Advice To Consumers
In an Oregon Health Authority press release, officials urged that anyone who ate at a Chipotle between October 14 and 23, and became ill with vomiting and bloody diarrhea, to see their health care provider and mention this outbreak.
Diagnosing E. coli Foodborne Illness
A diagnosis of E. coli foodborne illness can usually be confirmed by performing a stool culture, a type of laboratory test that can detect the presence of the pathogenic bacterium in an infected person’s stool.
About E. coli and E. coli Symptoms and Complications
E. coli is a type of bacterium that lives in the intestines of healthy humans and animals. While many strains of E. coli are harmless, some strains are capable of producing a powerful toxin, known as Shiga toxin, and can cause severe, life-threatening illness. These pathogenic strains of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli are often referred to as “STEC.”
Symptoms of E. coli infection may include severe abdominal cramps, diarrhea (often bloody) and vomiting. Sometimes a low-grade fever is present. Children and the elderly are at greatest risk for suffering complications resulting from E. coli infection, including hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) and thrombocytopenia purpura (TTP).
Contact The Weinberg Law Firm For E. coli Lawsuit Help
The Weinberg Law Firm is currently assisting victims of food poisoning outbreaks nationwide, including those sickened in the Chipotle E. coli outbreak. If you or a loved one was sickened and you have a question regarding an E. coli lawsuit, please call our law firm at 1-877-934-6274 for a free legal case evaluation. You can also contact us online by using the “Free Legal Case Evaluation Form” found on this page.
