Last updated on December 16th, 2015 at 02:01 pm
Several state and city health agencies have officially launched an investigation after receiving reports of multiple cases of gastrointestinal illness among patrons who ate at the Chipotle Mexican Grill in Cleveland Circle (a neighborhood of Boston). The Boston Public Health Commission, the City of Boston Inspectional Services Department and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health launched an investigation on Dec. 11 to determine the cause and the nature of the illness.
According to the Boston Health Commission, early laboratory testing confirmed the presence of the norovirus, but the additional cultures submitted for testing at the beginning of the outbreak have now returned as negative for bacterial pathogens, including E. coli.
There currently are 136 known cases from people who ate at Chipotle; others who are contacts to these cases also have become ill. However, the information is constantly evolving. The restaurant remains temporarily closed while the investigation continues.
The norovirus is highly contagious and easily passed among those in close proximity.
