Seventeen 
Chipotle locations in Minnesota have been linked to a Salmonella Newport outbreak that has sickened at least 45 people. Locations confirmed to be part of the outbreak are: Bloomington, Crystal, Hopkins, Maple Grove, Maplewood, Minnetonka, Richfield, Ridgedale, Rochester, Shoreview, St. Cloud, St. Louis Park, St. Paul Lawson, and in Minneapolis 7 Corners, Calhoun, Uptown, and US Bank Plaza. Other locations may also be involved.
Minnesota health and agriculture officials are testing suspected ingredients. Results of those tests are not yet available.
The outbreak is not associated with the cucumber Salmonella outbreak and is no longer ongoing. The suspected source is a produce item and Chipotle has switched its supplier. However, health officials urge anyone who ate at a Minnesota Chipotle between August 16 and August 26 and developed symptoms of a Salmonella infection to see a doctor and mention possible exposure to Salmonella at Chipotle.
Symptoms of a Salmonella infection include fever, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea that is sometimes bloody. Symptoms usually begin within six to 72 hours after exposure and last up to a week. In about 28 percent of cases, hospitalization is required. Of those, an invasive, life-threatening form of the infection can occur. Those most at risk are children, seniors and those with compromised immune systems.
In this outbreak, the case patients range in age from 15 to 67 years and are from eight counties. Fifty six are male. Five were hospitalized but are recovering.
Health investigators have interviewed 34 of the 45 confirmed cases. Of those, 32 reported eating at a Chipotle between Aug. 16 to Aug. 26 and becoming symptomatic between Aug. 20 and Aug. 29. During that time frame, Chipotle served more than 560,000 customers in Minnesota so health officials believe many more people could be part of the outbreak.
About 700 cases of salmonellosis are reported each year in Minnesota. Recent Salmonella outbreaks affecting Minnesota have included:
The cucumber Salmonella which has expanded to 30 states, with 341 sick, 70 hospitalized and two dead. Federal health officials say cucumbers grown in Mexico and distributed by Andrew and Williamson Fresh Produce of San Diego are the likely source. A recall for the cucumbers distributed from August 1 to September 3 has been issued.
Twelve people in Minnesota are part of the cucumber outbreak, 10 of them contracted infections after eating salads containing contaminated cucumbers at Red Lobster restaurants.
In July, a Salmonella outbreak linked to Barber frozen chicken sickened nine people in in four states. Six cases were reported in Minnesota. One man developed severe gastroenteritis soon after eating the product with Salmonella symptoms including diarrhea, abdominal cramps, fever, chills and headache. His symptoms, which persisted for several weeks, led doctors to test him for a bacterial infection. The result was a Salmonella strain genetically matched to the outbreak strain.
