Chipotle Closes 43 Restaurants Amid E. Coli Outbreak

— -- Chipotle closed 43 of its restaurants in Washington state and Oregon as health officials investigated an E. coli outbreak that appears to be linked to the fast casual chain.

As of Saturday, there were three cases of E. coli in Oregon and at least 19 in Washington, said state health officials. One-third of those sickened were hospitalized, officials said.

"While the outbreak appears to be linked to food served at Chipotle restaurants, the food or other source of contamination hasn't yet been determined and remains under investigation," the Washington State Department of Health said.

Most E. coli are harmless, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, some types can be transmitted through contaminated water or food and cause symptoms like diarrhea and vomiting.

"The safety and wellbeing of our customers is always our highest priority," read a statement from Chipotle spokesman Chris Arnold. "After being notified by health department officials in the Seattle and Portland, Ore. areas that they were investigating approximately 20 cases of E. coli, including people who ate at six of our restaurants in those areas, we immediately closed all of our restaurants in the area out of an abundance of caution, even though the vast majority of these restaurants have no reported problems."

"We are working with health department officials to determine the cause of this issue. We offer our deepest sympathies to those who have been affected by this situation," Arnold continued.

The illnesses were reported in Clark, King, Skagit and Cowlitz Counties in Washington, as well as Clackamas and Washington Counties in Oregon, officials said.

"Anyone who thinks they may have become ill from eating at a Chipotle restaurant in the past three weeks should consult their healthcare provider," said Dr. Scott Lindquist of the Washington State Department of Health. "The elderly and very young children are more likely to become severely ill from this kind of E. coli infection.”