A Maple Lake, Minnesota family is dealing with heartbreak after a young girl died after she was infected by a severe strain of E. coli bacteria. Kallan Maresh passed away after she and her older brother Kade, suffering from diarrhea and vomiting, were rushed by ambulance to the University of Minnesota's Masonic Children's Hospital last month.



The infections caused hemolytic uremic syndrome, a serious form of kidney failure, in the children, according to state health officials. This severe complication resulted in the death of Kallan; Kade is recovering at home.

Minnesota Department of Health epidemiologists have completed their investigation into the E. coli bacterial infections, but were not able to identify a specific source.

Previous coverage: Maple Lake, Minnesota Girl Dies Of E. Coli Bacteria Infection The children were sickened with a strain of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli, or STEC, known as STEC O145, as well as an undetermined type of STEC, according to a news release.

(For more local news, click here to sign up for real-time news alerts and newsletters from Minnesota Patch, click here to find your local Minnesota Patch. Also, follow us on Facebook, and if you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app.) Disease investigators considered all known potential sources of E. coli, including typical sources, which can include foods such as ground beef, leafy greens and raw milk; swimming; person-to-person transmission in families or daycares; and farm animal contact, such as at fairs or petting zoos.

"Unfortunately, we were not able to identify the source of the children's infections," said MDH State Public Health Veterinarian Joni Scheftel in a statement.

"In particular, we did not find a connection with a petting zoo that the children visited, despite extensive testing of the animals."