E. coli linked to Lake Stevens eatery

LAKE STEVENS — A restaurant in Lake Stevens is now believed the likely source of 13 of 17 recent cases of E. coli, the Snohomish Health District announced today.

Investigation into the outbreak of illness indicates people likely were exposed to the bacteria at the Ixtapa restaurant, according to health officials.

People working at the restaurant have been cooperative with the Snohomish Health District, closing voluntarily while the investigation continues, said spokeswoman Suzanne Pate.

It is not clear how E. coli got into the restaurant, and that’s the problem facing investigators, Pate said.

The spread of illness could be the result of contamination of food before it reached the restaurant or after, Pate said.

“I have no hesitation in eating in any other Ixtapa location,” she added.

The restaurant’s owner declined comment. His attorney, Stephen Pidgeon of Bellevue, said Ixtapa is making its customers’ health the top priority.

“Ixtapa has been a very popular restaurant in Lake Stevens for the last 17 years and they are very concerned about this particular issue and although the health district investigation is not conclusive, Ixtapa is nonetheless prepared to be a part of the solution and not part of the problem because their patrons’ health is part of their top priority,” he said.

Now that the likely exposure site has been found, investigators will be interviewing the 13 people with lengthy questionnaires to home in on menu items that may have transmitted the bacteria.

“The investigation will now be ramped up as we find specific foods and find something in common between them,” Pate said. “We also interview healthy people who may have eaten the same thing.”

Four of those who became sick did not eat at the restaurant.

Snohomish County typically sees up to 20 E. coli cases a year, Pate said. There have been no new cases since the initial outbreak. “And we hope it stays that way,” she added.

Reporter Justin Arnold: 425-339-3432 or jarnold@heraldnet.com.