Recordpub.com - 432 now linked to Chipotle outbreak Kent health official says symptoms resemble those of Norwalk virus

By Matt Fredmonsky
Record-Courier staff writer
A total of 432 people now believe their recent bouts with nauseu, vomiting and diarrhea are linked to their patronage of the Chipotle Mexican Grill at 429 E. Main St. in Kent.
Health officials released the total number of reported cases Monday and identified a suspected cause of the illness, which initially sent dozens of the restaurant's customers in search of medical treatment after eating there last week.
Early reports showed about 40 people, primarily Kent State University students, had fallen ill after visiting the eatery. The number skyrocketed to 180 Saturday after news reports urged people with similar symptoms who may have eaten at the restaurant to contact health officials.
Kent Health Commissioner John Ferlito said the symptoms experienced by the people who became sick resemble those of the norovirus or Norwalk Virus.
"It's following the same modus operandi," Ferlito said. "Which seems to be classic norovirus."
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, noroviruses are a group of related, single-stranded RNA non-enveloped viruses that cause acute gastroenteritis in humans. The infection usually presents as acute-onset vomiting, watery non-bloody diarrhea with abdominal cramps and nausea. Low-grade fever also occasionally occurs, and the illness typically presents within 24 to 36 hours of infection.
Transmission of the illness can occur through food, person-to-person contact and through contact with contaminated environmental surfaces, according to the CDC.
Ferlito, however, suspects the viral gastroenteritis passed to the customers through the restaurant's food.
"It got into the food and when people ingested the food. That's how they got it," he said.
Chris Arnold, spokesman for Chipotle's corporate office in Colorado, disagrees.
"We believed this might be a norovirus, which is spread very easily from person to person, rather than something connected to our food or food supply," Arnold said in a statement. "We took immediate preventative measures when we voluntarily closed our restaurant on Friday for a complete sanitization. We reopened on Saturday with the full support of the Kent health department, after inspections Friday morning when this was originally brought to our attention, and again Saturday morning before we reopened. Neither inspection found any violations."
No national surveillance system exists for acute gastroenteritis outbreaks, including those caused by norovirus, unless foodborne transmission is suspected. Ohio experienced 22 norovirus cases from October to December 2005 and another 69 cases during the same three-month period in 2006, according to the CDC.
The city, state and county health departments are cooperating to test food samples from the restaurant and stool samples from people who became sick. No cases have been reported of people becaming sick after eating at the restaurant since it re-opened Saturday after a voluntary shutdown occurred on Friday so employees could discard any remaining food stock and sanitize the entire eatery.
Ferlito said the Denver-based restaurant chain cooperated fully during the outbreak and city inspectors found no food-service violations during inspections conducted before and during the incident.
"Hopefully we can capture the virus, but we might not," Ferlito said. "Chipotle cooperated well, but sometimes things happen."
Record-Courier reporter Diane Smith contributed to this story.

Posted by kimbakj April 25, 2008

I just want to toss out an observation of sorts...
is it any wonder that this is happening in Portage County?The people have watched and evidently learned from many of the illustrious politicians and city workers how to pilfer other peoples money.It's been done to them through politicians rifling through tax dollars for their own benifit.Or abusing programs like that Neighborhood Development where you can mow lawns for $250,000.00 not a bad deal!!! This is just a case of a larger group of people but on a smaller scale in terms of getting something for nothing.Well,it's not nothing to the business or the staff who need their paychecks.But,the Portage County officials,politicians,and the Good Ol' Boy gang have set the example that lacks the honesty and integrity to enhance the quality of life in Portage County.That should make anybody sick.

Posted by hill5 April 23, 2008

HAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA....well well summersunshine did you get a ray stuck up your a**???? What in the h*** kind of post is that??? I would like to know exactly what went through your mind when you wrote that. You seriously have some issues that need to be evaluated and dealt with. Your statement (You know what hill5, go choke your "Chicken Bol" and realize that this ins't a group of people that are "plain sick." If you had been one of the people ill, you'd be upset and you know it.) is just plain out ridiculous. First of all, if they are not just plain sick, then what are they?????? Its the noro virus, which is just like the flu. Do you know what the noro virus is??? If not, before you go blabbing a bunch of nothings onto this forum, maybe you should take a break, google it, and read on it. Then when you have finished that, take a few moments before you post something else unintelligent and think about what you are going to say. Make sure you re-read it a couple of times. If it still makes about as much sense as your posts on this board, then just walk away from the computer and save yourself from looking like a complete dumb a**!!! Chipotle is a great resturaunt w/ great food. If you have never ate there then you are truly missing out. I could understand if this was food poisioning, but its NOT!!!! Its just a virus that went from one person to the next. And I can guarantee, hell I'll bet money on it, that more than half of these people who have come forward since the 15th had just the flu. I can also guarantee that a lot of them didn't even eat at Chipotle or better yet, at the Kent location that day. I would love to see an article on the amount of people they had to reimburse compared to the amount who have come forward saying they were ill. I could go on and on about all of this with you. However I don't think you are mature enough to be involved in adult conversations by the two entries you have posted on here. Have a lovely day!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by Ohio Gal April 22, 2008

I too was sick with a stomach flue and symptoms such as these, I stayed home and patiently waited to get better. I did not eat at this place nor seek medical attention.
I think the numbers l8 getting medical treatment show that the other 400 or so were inconvenienced but doesn't the flue, a cold, and other things we catch all the time cause us down time. I applaud them for setting up the medical. This is a risk you take anytime you eat anywhere.
As a former college bartender let me tell you something..........I NEVER ever want a lime or lemon in my water or drink. The restaurant I worked at shared a walk in cooler with the kitchen and bar staff. The chefs would go in and grab them out of a bin, and so would the bartenders. Many a times I caught the bartenders not washing the outside of the lemon or lime prior to cutting it and putting it into someones drink. You can guarantee l00% sanitation in a restaurant or even your home. It's life, it happens. Every time someone gets the diarrhea it could have been from something you ate in the hours prior it just takes a little bacteria. Different strains have different effects. Various forms of food poisoning occur more often than we realize. All the fruits and veggies in the grocery store are perfect examples they all need washed they have been handled multiple times. How many times a child eats a grape or strawberry on the way home?
It's unfortunate this happened I hope it's handled correctly, I just don't agree the restaurant should be open to multiple lawsuits when a patron could have brought it in. Do we get to sue the childs school when a childs classmate brings head lice in to school, or the company when an office co-worker who starts the flu or cold cycle in the office? Attorneys are getting richer and we in the end as consumers pay more and more.

Posted by averagejoe April 22, 2008

WHOA Summersunhine - No need to talk like that. How old are you? 1st it is a norovirus. It could have been passed from person to person and who knows where it started. Do employees wear gloves there? If so it probably wasnt an employee. It could have been from a customer getting a drink refill from the drink machine and the repeated touching of that, or from a customer that went to the restroom and left without sanitizing their hands and touched the outside door handle. This stuff spreads like crazy on all surfaces.

Auburn Smith - wants them to admit guilt and it may not have been their fault. They have shown that they follow all of the health dept rules. I know for a fact that this place is very clean and well maintained. Also they are in good faith going to pay some of the medical bills. How many of these people do you think actually got sick and how many do you think jumped on the money wagon after they saw what happened? 1st it was 34 then 180 then 432...com'on. Only 18 went to the doctors. How many actually had the stomach flu that is going around? This has the same symptoms as that. Sure we all would be mad about getting sick. But who knows with this type of virus where it started. For them to be sued is ridiculous which is what you and Auburn think should happen. Think of how you would feel if you were the business owner and what happened wasnt your fault. Please, we are dealing with people here. You have too much faith in their honesty.