Chipotle Linked To Another E. Coli Outbreak In Three States, According To CDC

Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. shares are down 2.9% in afternoon trading Monday, after the restaurant chain was linked to another outbreak of E. coli that has made three people ill in Oklahoma and one person sick each in Kansas and North Dakota, the Centers for Disease Control said. The CDC said it is treating this outbreak separately because it doesn't know if the infections are related to the previously reported larger outbreak that reached its peak in October. The more recent illnesses started between Nov. 18 and Nov. 26. Another reported case in Pennsylvania involves a person who did not report eating at a Chipotle in the week leading up to Nov. 14, when the illness started. As of Dec. 18, there were 53 people infected with the Escherichia coli O26 (STEC O26) strain. The investigations are ongoing. Chipotle shares are down 23.5% for the year so far, while the S&P is down 2.4% for the same period.