“Initial testing conducted by the state public health has shown the presence of norovirus”, the health department said in a statement.
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“If we had some indication that this was going to be an issue in CT we would look into it then, but right now we have no indication that it’s an issue”, Anderson said.
In its latest annual report, Chipotle explained it may be at a higher risk of food-borne illness than some competitors due to its “use of fresh produce and meats rather than frozen” and “reliance on employees cooking with traditional methods rather than automation”.
Moreover, 8 players on the Boston College Basketball team confirmed to have E.coli just moments after Boston College’s university medical staff sent out a campus-wide email notifying students and faculty that there were numerous people on campus that had become sick from the Chipotle restaurant in Cleveland Circle.
Norovirus causes mass outbreaks with symptoms similar to E. coli, including vomiting and diarrhea, but can be spread by a sick employee or customer. “Test results will not be available for at least two days”, BC wrote.
Chipotle is now under siege from a nationwide E. coli outbreak that they have been unable to find the source of or halt, which is sending the company’s stock price tumbling.
Chris Arnold, a spokesperson for the eatery, said the company agreed with health officials that it is likely a norovirus, which seems very consistent with the pattern here.
Chipotle has been under a microscope since October 31, when it was first linked to an E. coli outbreak that has sickened 52 people in nine states.
Steve Ells, chairman and co-CEO of Chipotle, said in the release that the company is working, “harder than ever to ensure that our food is safe and delicious”.
People can get norovirus from an infected person, contaminated food or water, or by touching contaminated surfaces, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. At least 265,000 of those cases involve E. coli.
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Reach Esteban L. Hernandez at 203-680-9901.
