The number of people who have contracted E. coli after eating at Chipotle restaurants continues to climb, with nearly 40 people sickened across Western Washington and the Portland-metro area.
As of Wednesday afternoon, 29 Washington residents have been infected with E. coli, including 12 Clark County residents. In Oregon, health officials revised their case total to 10, down from the 12 cases reported on Tuesday. The case numbers fluctuated because more precise laboratory results became available, according to Oregon health officials.
The 29 cases in Washington — up from 25 cases reported on Tuesday — are in six counties. The first case in Whatcom County is included in Wednesday’s totals.
Clark County’s 12 cases mark the highest total for any Washington county. The local patients are one teenager, five people in their 20s, two in their 30s, two in their 40s, one in his or her 50s and one in his or her 60s. More specifics were not released.
The rest of the state cases are in King (6), Skagit (5), Cowlitz (3) and Island (2) counties. The ages of people involved range from 1 to 67 years old, and 11 people have been hospitalized, according to state health officials. One Clark County resident was hospitalized but has since been released.
In Oregon, the ages of people involved in the outbreak range from 11 to 61 years old. Three people have been hospitalized, according to state health officials.
No deaths have been reported in either state.
On Wednesday, state health officials also identified the 10 Chipotle restaurants tied to the outbreak.
In Washington, locations include the Hazel Dell Chipotle, 7715 N.E. Fifth Ave., Suite 109, as well as restaurants in Kent, Burlington and two locations in Seattle. The Oregon restaurants are at Cascade Station near Portland International Airport, Washington Square, Lake Oswego, Tanasbourne and Clackamas Town Center.
In response to the outbreak, Chipotle voluntarily closed 43 of its restaurants in Washington and Oregon as a precaution, including both Clark County locations. The restaurants remain closed.
Washington and Oregon health officials are working together to establish criteria for the restaurants to reopen.
