Chipotle shares hit by E. coli scare

California also was added to the list with two cases, while one was reported in NY. Four people have died as a result of that outbreak, which has made 838 people in 38 states sick. The case under investigation in Erie County reported eating at a local Chipotle Mexican Grill restaurant during the same time period in October as those reported in the other states. Many of those who were infected said they had eaten at Chipotle.

As a response to all reported E. coli cases, Chipotle made moves to contain and remove the E. coli threat from all affected restaurants, the release says.

Earlier this month, the chain temporarily closed 43 outlets in and around Washington and OR states.

The total of 45 illnesses is from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) which is including only the illnesses that have been confirmed by PulseNet as being infected with the outbreak strain of Shiga toxin-producing E.coli O26.

Investigators are using whole genome sequencing, an advanced laboratory technique, to get more information about the DNA fingerprint of the STEC O26 bacteria causing illness, the CDC said Friday.

Chipotle is examining its food preparation procedures and is working with health officials to understand the distribution of food items served at the restaurants where ill people ate. The company has since re-opened all the restaurants.

The new outbreak reports came from California, OH and NY, the CDC said, bringing to six the number of states affected.

Sixteen people have been hospitalized with food poisoning, but there have been no reports of death. The stock was already down 11 percent this year before Friday, hurt by concerns about slowing growth.

“At the moment, we do not believe that it is necessary to close any restaurants”, Chipotle spokesman Chris Arnold said.

The source of the food contamination has not yet been found, but a few investigators and experts suspect produce or another perishable item. These measures include a deep clean of the restaurants; replacement of all ingredients in the restaurants; and screening all employees for E. coli symptoms.