The number of people with confirmed cases of E. coli in Chapel Hill has risen to eight. Of the eight confirmed cases, seven are University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill students. Health officials said seven of the eight recalled eating at McAlister’s, a restaurant at 205 E. Franklin St. in Chapel Hill Oct. 23-25.

Both the people with confirmed cases and those they knew who also ate at the restaurant and did not get sick are being asked by the Environmental Health Services Division to complete food histories of that period to try to find a common link. Officials hope the tests will also narrow the focus of any possible causes, if any are found.