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Officials Don't Know Source Of 3-Year-Old Girl's Fatal E. Coli

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota health officials say they are unable to identify the source of an E. coli strain that killed a 3-year-old Wright County girl and sickened her older brother.

The state Health Department said Monday it has completed its investigation but was unable to identify a single source of E. coli.

The parents of Kallan Maresh say the bacteria toxin attacked their daughter's kidneys and neurological system and led to her death. Kallan and her 5-year-old brother, Kade, contracted the bacteria July 9, sending them into kidney failure.

Kade and Kallan Maresh
(credit: CBS)

The Health Department says disease investigators considered all known potential sources of E. coli, including farm animals. But officials did not find a connection with a petting zoo the children visited, despite extensive testing of the animals.

No additional cases have been reported.

(© Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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