Tyler
2015-12-09 01:19:28 UTC
The number of Boston College students stricken with stomach
symptoms grew to 80 on Tuesday, and all say they ate at a nearby
Chipotle restaurant.
Although many of the students said they feared they'd been
struck with the same E. coli bacteria that made 52 people in
nine states sick this fall, Chipotle officials say they doubt
it's E. coli this time.
"Health officials in Boston believe this is likely a norovirus,
which seems consistent with the pattern, in our estimation,"
Chipotle spokesman Chris Arnold told NBC News.
City health officials ordered the outlet closed after an
inspection showed the cooked chicken used to make burritos,
tacos and other dishes was being kept at too low a temperature,
an employee worked while showing signs of illness and because of
the reports of possible foodborne illness.
Chipotle said it had voluntarily closed the restaurant in the
Brighton section of the city.
"All 80 students have confirmed that they ate at the Chipotle
Restaurant in Cleveland Circle during the weekend," Boston
College said in a statement.
"All have been tested for both E. coli and the norovirus. Test
results will not be available for at least two days."
Norovirus is notorious for causing large outbreaks of sickness
and it can be spread by a single sick restaurant worker or one
sick patron. Simple handwashing is often not enough to prevent
its spread.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says it's still
not sure what particular food caused the E. coli outbreak at
Chipotle. A separate E. coli outbreak that's made 19 people sick
in seven states was linked to celery sold at Costco, 7-11, King
Sooper and other stores.
Symptoms of both illnesses are similar diarrhea, stomach
cramps and fever. But norovirus is far more likely than E. coli
to cause vomiting.
Shares of Chipotle slipped $9.98, or 1.8 percent, to $541.77 in
midday trading Tuesday. Its shares have fallen about 28 percent
from their all-time high of $758.61 achieved in August.
http://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/chipotle-outbreak-
grows-80-boston-college-students-n476316
symptoms grew to 80 on Tuesday, and all say they ate at a nearby
Chipotle restaurant.
Although many of the students said they feared they'd been
struck with the same E. coli bacteria that made 52 people in
nine states sick this fall, Chipotle officials say they doubt
it's E. coli this time.
"Health officials in Boston believe this is likely a norovirus,
which seems consistent with the pattern, in our estimation,"
Chipotle spokesman Chris Arnold told NBC News.
City health officials ordered the outlet closed after an
inspection showed the cooked chicken used to make burritos,
tacos and other dishes was being kept at too low a temperature,
an employee worked while showing signs of illness and because of
the reports of possible foodborne illness.
Chipotle said it had voluntarily closed the restaurant in the
Brighton section of the city.
"All 80 students have confirmed that they ate at the Chipotle
Restaurant in Cleveland Circle during the weekend," Boston
College said in a statement.
"All have been tested for both E. coli and the norovirus. Test
results will not be available for at least two days."
Norovirus is notorious for causing large outbreaks of sickness
and it can be spread by a single sick restaurant worker or one
sick patron. Simple handwashing is often not enough to prevent
its spread.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says it's still
not sure what particular food caused the E. coli outbreak at
Chipotle. A separate E. coli outbreak that's made 19 people sick
in seven states was linked to celery sold at Costco, 7-11, King
Sooper and other stores.
Symptoms of both illnesses are similar diarrhea, stomach
cramps and fever. But norovirus is far more likely than E. coli
to cause vomiting.
Shares of Chipotle slipped $9.98, or 1.8 percent, to $541.77 in
midday trading Tuesday. Its shares have fallen about 28 percent
from their all-time high of $758.61 achieved in August.
http://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/chipotle-outbreak-
grows-80-boston-college-students-n476316