Boston College basketball players among dozens sick after eating Chipotle

BOSTON, Dec. 8 (UPI) -- About 30 Boston College students, including at least eight basketball players, got sick after eating at a Chipotle restaurant, prompting an investigation to determine if E. coli is the culprit.

The restaurant in the Brighton neighborhood so far has not been linked to the nationwide E. coli outbreak in nine states that has sickened at least 52 people since October. The Massachusetts Department of Health is working to determine the cause of the illnesses.

The Cleveland Circle Chipotle was closed down while health officials investigate. E. coli bacteria symptons include diarrhea and abdominal pain, usually occurring two to eight days after a person is exposed.

"Due to circumstances beyond our control, we're currently closed. We hope to be back to our regular hours and get a burrito in your hand ASAP. Sorry for any inconvenience," a paper sign taped to the front door of the restaurant said.

Boston College alerted students about the incident. Some of the sick basketball players missed a game on Sunday against the University of Massachusetts Lowell.

Chipotle said the incident in Massachusetts is not currently linked to the other E. coli flare-ups across the country.

"The safety and well-being of our customers is always our highest priority, so our restaurant at Cleveland Circle in Boston is temporarily closed while we work with local health officials to investigate a number of illnesses among Boston College students," Chipotle said in a statement. "We do not have any evidence to suggest that this incident is related the previous E. coli incident. There are no confirmed cases of E. coli connected to Chipotle in Massachusetts."