GARDEN CITY - An outbreak of E. coli bacteria has sickened more than a dozen people on Long Island, including several who ate at Taco Bell, prompting officials to ask that eight of the fast-food restaurants be closed.

It was not immediately clear if the Long Island E. coli was related to an outbreak in New Jersey, where several people got sick after eating at Taco Bell. At least 15 people became ill in New Jersey, two seriously.

Four of the restaurants were closed in Suffolk County, and Nassau County officials said Taco Bell had agreed to close and decontaminate four there but didn't say when.

Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi said the closures had been sought “out of an abundance of caution.”